Canadian Historic Sites: Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History No. 15

A History of Martello Towers in the Defence of British North America, 1796-1871

by Ivan J. Saunders

Appendix K. East and West Branch Ditch Towers, Kingston

Built: 1845-48
Armed: 1861
Disarmed: date unknown
Demolished: (extant. 1972)
Facing material: limestone ashlar masonry
Diameter: approximately 30 ft.
Height: 45 ft.
Wall thickness: up to 8 ft.
Parapet height: 6 ft.
Storeys: three
Purpose: to flank the branch ditches of Fort Henry and the shoreline around Point Henry.

39 West Branch Ditch tower, Kingston, 1971. (Photograph by author.)

40 View of Point Henry, Kingston, illustrating the relationship of Fort Henry and the West Branch Ditch tower, 1859. (Public Archives of Canada.)

41 Plant of Point Henry, Kingston, showing the relationship between Fort Henry and the Branch Ditch towers, n.d. (Public Archives of Canada.)

42 Branch Ditch towers, Kingston, views illustrating the proposed means of entry, 1848. (Public Archives of Canada.)

43 Branch Ditch towers, Kingston, section view and floor plans of the towers, n.d. (Public Archives of Canada.)

44 Branch Ditch towers, Kingston, floor plans showing barrack accommodation, n.d. For armament, see Fig. 70. (Public Archives of Canada.)