Hackemdown Tower

Heritage listing

Details CONVENT ROAD (North Side) BROADSTAIRS Hackemdown Tower 1. 5283 TR 37 SE 6/81 II GV 2. In 1768, Lord Holland opened a barrow on his estate and found a quantity of human bones. It was believed that these resulted from a battle between the Danes and the Saxons circa 850. Lord Holland decided to build a monument "in the stile of very remote antiquity". The clock was added later. Originally the base of the tower had 4 ogee arches on Doric columns but these have now been removed. Late C18. A circular flint tower crenellated with yellow brick coping and yellow brick bands. Flint base. 4 quatrefoil ornaments, 2 blank panels and 1 stone panel with a Latin inscription. Arched doorcase. The tower is set within a large low circular wall of brick and flint with crenellated parapet. The inscription reads: "D.M. Danorum & Saxonum hic occisorum Dum de solo britannico (Milites nihil a se alienum Putant) Britannis Perfide et crudeliter olim expulsis, Inter se domicaverunt HEN: de HOLLAND Posuit Qui Duces qualis hujus Praelii Exitus Nulla Notat Historia Annum circiter DCCCL evenit Pugna Et Pugnam hanc evenisse Fidem faciunt Ossa quamplurima Quae sub hoc & altero Tumulo huic vicino Sunt sepulta" which translated is: "To the shades of the departed and in memory of the Danes and Saxons who were killed here whilst fighting for the possession of Britain (soldiers think everything their own), the Britons already having been perfidiously and cruelly expelled, this was put up by Henry Holland. History does not record the names of the leaders or the result of the action. It happened about the year 850 and that it happened here seems true from the quantity of bones buried in this and the nearby tumulus." All listed buildings in Port Regis School grounds form a group. Listing NGR: TR39545702

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.