Coastal Towers · 12 places
Icho Tower
A granite tower completed in 1810 on a reef off the south-east coast, built to cover the stretch of water Baron de Rullecourt's invasion force had used to come ashore in 1781.
- Parish
- St Clement
- Type
- Coastal tower
- Rarity
- Rare
- Tide
- Low tide only
The story
A granite tower completed in 1810 on a reef off the south-east coast, built to cover the stretch of water Baron de Rullecourt's invasion force had used to come ashore in 1781. The granite was quarried from the islet it stands on, and from December 1811 stone from the same rock was shipped round the coast for the building of Fort Regent. The first detachment of soldiers arrived in the summer of 1811. The tower was originally garrisoned by 30 men, reduced by 1840 to one officer and 12. An inspection of 1835 records a single 24-pounder. In 1860 the army recommended abandoning Icho and Seymour together.
