Listed building or place reference: OU0092 Historic site reference Property Lewis's Tower Road name La Grande Route des Mielles Parish St. Ouen LocationView on map Grade Listed Building Grade 1 Category Anglo-Jersey military structure Statement of significance Outstanding example of early 19th century fortification. Lewis's Tower retains its historical authenticity and completeness as an 1835 Martello tower with the architectural integrity of the building close to its original form and physical context. Context n/a External Description Lewis's Tower is built on the coast of St Ouen's Bay near to the slipway at Les Laveurs. It is an 1835 Martello tower with a c.1942 German garage housing and entrance at the base. The tower is circular - approximately 38 ft in diameter at the base and a squat 33 ft height. It has a noticeably battered outer wall of squared granite with dressed granite openings. The outer wall is robust - the front section being 9ft thick and the rear section 8ft thick. A dressed granite doorway faces inland away from the direction of attack. It has a carved lintel LEWIS'S TOWER and the two upper jamb stones are carved with the date 1835. The timber door is modern. The tower has just three small window openings at first floor level. The timber shutters are modern. Below the doorway, sunk below ground level is an inserted concrete doorway and access steps. On the northeast side of the base of the tower is a concrete searchlight housing with arched roof. The tower is arranged on three levels. The 1835 entrance is raised at first floor level. The doorway has a specially profiled threshold that enabled the original entrance ladder to be withdrawn from above. The first floor room is designed as a 'bomb-proof' vault protecting the accommodation for gunners. The walls are ashlar granite with a central dressed granite pillar and brick vault supporting the gun platform above. There are no loopholes but a circuit of three deep-set windows dressed with ashlar granite. There is a small fireplace with brick hearth. The room is separated from the magazine below by a 1940s steel and concrete floor. Access to the magazine is via a metal staircase through the concrete floor. Access to roof level is via a metal ladder set in a niche within the thickness of the external wall. At basement level is a magazine divided into two rooms. The magazine was originally only accessible via an internal stair ladder from the first floor but the 'outer' room can now be entered either by a metal staircase from above or through an external doorway inserted by the German forces in the 1940s - defended by a small gun embrasure. The 'outer' room has squared granite walls, granite flag floor with inserted concrete and steel ceiling above, and a central dressed granite pillar. A dressed granite doorway connects with the enclosed magazine room. There is a small internal window between the two rooms to enable the magazine to be illuminated by candlelight. The enclosed magazine has squared granite walls with baffled ventilation slots dressed with brick. The outer wall follows the curve of the tower. There is a granite flag floor and brick arched ceiling. The roof platform is supported off the brick vault below. The platform is granite flags with a central granite pillar with iron pivot to house the traversing gun. There is a masonry parapet with dressed copings and raised step. A drainage channel runs into a rainwater spout on the exterior of the wall. There are three storage niches around the parapet and a modified capping to the chimney. Internal Description n/a Special interest Architectural,Historical For the best experience, you will need to use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browser to view the map Back to detail page Back to search results Documents Terms and conditions for downloading documents The plans, drawings and material provided have been submitted to the Chief Officer for permissions in respect of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002. They are protected by copyright under the Intellectual Property (Unregistered Rights) (Jersey) Law 2011 (Article 70 of the 2011 Law). The material is being provided to make available for public inspection the Register of Planning and Building Applications and must not be used for other purposes without the prior permission of the copyright owner.The Minister for the Environment makes every effort to maintain the accuracy of the information on this website but cannot accept responsibility for and disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may arise from the use of the information provided. For applications approved during or after July 2016 approved documents are available from within the ‘Approved Documents’ section. For applications approved from 15 May 2012 - July 2016 approved documents are available under the ‘Plans’ section. I understand and agree with the terms and conditions. Back to search results
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