Grain Tower Battery was completed in 1855 and was similar to the earlier Napoleanic East Coast Martello towers.It is located in the Thames Estuary off Grain and can be reached by foot via a causeway at low tide.It has been altered a number of times over the years hence it's strange appearance.
The Tower was used in both World Wars and was altered to acommodate new guns in both.In 1914 a Boom (Large Chain) was put across the Mouth of the River Medway from Sheerness to the Grain Tower,some of this chain still remains wrapped around the Tower.This Boom was to stop enemy ships entering the river.Quick fire guns were moved to the tower from the nearby Grain Wing Battery to fire on fast moving Torpedo boats firing at Ships moored at Sheerness or Chatham.
In WWII the 2 storey Barrack accomodation block next to the tower was built and a 4 Storey Observation tower with BOP (Battery Observation Post) was constructed on top of the original 1855 tower.
Inside the tower are stairs and various rooms and magazines/stores,also there's an ammunition lift still in there that would have taken ammunition from a room outside the Magazine up to behind one of the Gun emplacements.
Today Grain tower is abandoned and left to the elements.It has some damage and grafitti and has recently been put up for sale.
The Grain Tower Battery,with the WWII Accomodation block on the left
Remains of the Boom wrapped around the tower.
Twin Six-pounder quick firing Gun Emplacement.
Shell Hoist for the Ammunition Lift.
Magazine.
Observation Tower.
1910 4.7" Gun Emplacement with Ammo Lockers underneath.
Original 1855 tower with the WWII observation tower on top.
The Causeway to the Mainland.
