KENT.

HYTHE.

A view of Hythe from the canal bridge, has been given in the first volume of this work, page 80, in the description of which, the church, here represented in the fore ground, and its curious crypt, have been mentioned. It stands very high above the town; the churchyard commanding a fine view of the sea, and the coast of France. The line of Martello towers presents a singular appearance on the beach; they are built upon one uniform plan, and of similar height and dimensions; the roof of each is vaulted and bomb proof. In the centre of the platform, on the summit of the tower, is a twenty-four pounder mounted on a traversing carriage, and of course capable of being pointed in any direction which may be required, as well as elevated so as to rake and command the coast. The building is always placed as near as possible to the water, unless some eminence within the range of the guns presents a more commodious situation. There are few of these forts exposed to any but very distant, or random shot, from ships or gun-boats, even if such should presume to approach. This description

of fortification, of which the idea may perhaps have been borrowed from the castles which King Henry VIII. caused to be erected, was deemed of so much importance in the late war, for defence against the landing of an enemy, that very large sums were expended upon the construction of Martello towers, along the whole line of coast. At this point they are all built of brick, of a circular form, with the walls of great thickness; they extend from the vicinity of East Were Bay to near Dymchurch; the largest is at Burmarsh, near the commencement of Dymchurch wall.