Martello towers are small coastal artillery forts constructed after renewal of war with France in 1803. A total of 103 tower were constructed, those on the south coast were numbered 1-74 and those in Essex and Suffolk were numbered A to Z. These towers were typically circular of near circular in plan and contained three floors and were an average height of 10 metres. They were built of brick and often rendered, and were up to 4 feet thick on the seaward side. The top floor housed cannons and the middle floor served as living quarters for about 25 men. The lower floor houses the ammunition and gunpowder.
Martello Tower C was built in 1812 in Jaywick, Essex. The main armament of the Tower was a heavy 24-pounder cannon and two 5.5 inch howitzers. The cannon could fire a 5.8 inch cast iron ball for up to a mile at approaching ships. The howitzers fired containers full of metal balls or shrapnel that were particularly effective at close range against groups of enemy soldiers.
In front of the Tower was a gun battery. This consisted of a brick wall faced with earth to absorb the impact of enemy fire. Behind the wall were three 24-pounder cannons. All the guns were mounted on pivots to give a greater field of fire. The Tower was armed until 1819 when the guns were removed. In 1835 the Tower was rearmed with one cannon only.
The tower is currently used as an audio-visual art gallery and has recently undergone a major programme of renovation and the addition of a modern rooftop metal and glass extension. There is currently one canon on the top of the tower.
Despite modern access being gained at ground level, the tower is in very good overall condition with the render and the coping stones were in perfect order.