Grain Tower

Grain Tower is a defensive tower, constructed between 1848 and 1855, it was designed in the same way as the Martello Towers. It served as a coastal artillery battery until its disarmament in 1956. The tower is situated in the Medway estuary on Grain Spit being connected to land by a causeway, the current causeway was rebuilt in 1915. In World War One it was converted to a 4.7” quick fire Battery. During World War Two the top portion of the tower was altered extensively to support the new twin 6pdr quick firing guns (in anticipation of countering the threat of German fast moving torpedo boats), the Coastal Artillery Searchlight Emplacement was upgraded, a Battery Observation Post was added as well as a new Barrack Block being constructed along side the tower. After the war ended the tower remained in use until 1956 subsequently being disarmed and abandoned.