A total of eleven British Martello Towers Menorca were built during the last period of British occupation between 1799 to 1802. All the Martello Towers were built during this period, and at least two of the towers, planned by the British, were completed by the Spanish.
The significance of these eleven towers is that they were all built prior to the Martello Towers in England (1805-12) . Designed by Captain Robert D’Arcy of the Royal Engineers they provided a blue print for the subsequent Martello Towers built in England, Ireland, Wales etc. Some Martello Towers were also built in Canada about 1800, and it therefore appears to have been something done overseas in the early years.
Although out of period these towers are of general interest because they provided a direct link from the original Martella Tower in Corsican, the Mortello Towers in Menorca and the subsequent building of Martello Towers around the South sand East Coast of England, parts of Ireland and elsewhere.
A total of eleven Martello Towers were built by the British around Menorca, four of these protected the main Mahon harbour and were the first built: