The Prince of Wales Tower was approved in 1796 as a primary defence to protect the land approaches to Point Pleasant. The Tower was built both as an infantry defence point and was also provided with artillery. Plans dated 30th November 1809, (TNA MPH 1/491), show the tower with two 24-pdr SB guns on traversing carriages and six carronade positions on the roof.
This was a large tower compared with the more common Martello Towers and could mount guns on the barrack block level as well as the roof. By 1802 the Tower mounted four 6-pdr SB guns on the Barrack Level and two 24-pdr SB guns and four 68-pdr carronades on the roof (six positions on roof). By 1810 the four 68-pdr carronades had been replaced by additional 24-pdr SB guns, giving six 24-pdr SB guns on the roof.
The were musketry loopholes all around the tower, on both floors.