Carleton Martello Tower

The Carleton Martello Tower was built during the war of 1812 to guard the land approaches to the city but was not completed until after the war. It was modified in order to be used as a powder magazine from 1859 to 1866 by the New Brunswick Regiment of Garrison Artillery. From 1866 to 1869 the tower was used as barracks. It was not used again until the First World War when it was used as a detention centre for deserters of the 69th Battalion from November 1915 until April 1916. At the beginning of the Second World War the tower was used as an anti-aircraft position by the Eighth Anti-Aircraft Battery. In August 1941 the tower was used as a Fire Command Post until August 1944. When originally built the tower was a round masonry structure, 30 feet high and 50 feet in diameter. In 1846 a bomb-proof magazine was built inside the tower. The only major architectural change to the tower was the addition of a concrete fire command post built on top of the tower. The roof was added to the tower between 1866 and 1868 but it was replaced in 1876. The opening in the roof served as a gun port. The New Brunswick Museum operated the tower for many years under a contract with Parks Canada. The exhibits concentrated on the barracks life of a soldier during the War of 1812 and featured the 104th New Brunswick Regiment. The sentries of the 104th Regiment were a popular attraction for the tourists. The tower was designated as a National Historic Park in the 1980’s. The powder magazine and the barracks were restored. The top two levels contain displays on the Second World War.