During World War Two a four-storey observation tower was built on the original 1855 tower.  The two quick-firing guns on the original roof were replaced with six-pounders.  There is more than one way to get up to this roof, but some ways are slightly more precarious than others.

Remember the shell hoist within the main structure?  The issue hatch is up on the roof, next to one of the gun positions.

The gun itself is, of course, long gone.  Only the mount exists today.  You can still imagine, however, the reach of it’s might across the Medway.

The four-storey tower itself has one room on each level; the top two levels are observation posts.  The tower is accessed via a concrete staircase with rusting metal handrails.  It sits between the two gun positions, offering commanding views over the mouth of the river.

Can you imagine standing in this tower, looking out over the horizon, waiting for an invasion?

The views from every angle were impressive.  To the southeast we could see the Isle of Sheppey.

To the west the causeway stretched back to shore.

And below us lay the accommodation block, also added in World War Two.

Points on this walk (copy and paste the co-ordinates into Google Earth):

• Grain Beach Car Park:  N 51° 27.582 E 000° 43.046
  
• Grain Tower:  N 51° 27.089 E 000° 43.869

Walk Statistics:

• Date of Walk: 17 May 2014