Essex Record Office Presents: Towering Defences
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars saw several invasion scares for Britain. This talk will discuss this time of danger and give some historical context to the construction of the Essex Martello towers.
The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars saw several invasion scares for Britain.
This talk will discuss this time of danger and give some historical context to the construction of the Essex Martello towers.
Neil Wiffen has worked at the Essex Record Office for the past 25 years and is undertaking a PhD looking at Essex during the period of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
Event details
Explore Essex
Search our parks and places to plan your perfect day out

Need to know
Explorer Pass
Save money with your Explorer Pass
Our annual Explore Essex Pass will give you and your family the freedom to explore some of the incredible places and green spaces that Essex has to offer, as many times as you like throughout the year, with free parking at seven country parks, 2 or 1 on Sky Ropes, priority booking on specific events, and 10% discounts at many cafes and visitor centres.
Related events

ERO Presents: How to dig up a castle
Join speaker Simon Coxall for this talk about excavating the Anglo-Saxon castle at Clavering.
- Dates: October 27, 2026
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 10:30am - 12:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £6.75

Archive Explorers Club: Essex Record Office
Come along to our free stay and play session for parents, carers and under-fives for an opportunity to meet other parents, enjoy a hot drink, and look through a selection of historic records.
- Dates:
- November 12, 2026
- November 26, 2026
- December 10, 2026
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- For under 5s
- Price: Free

ERO Presents: Coin hoarding in Late Saxon Essex
Join speaker Philip Wise for this talk about the Braintree and Hatfield Peverel hoards, why they might have been buried and what they can tell us about the use of coins by the population of Essex in the 11th century.
- Dates: November 24, 2026
- Venue: Essex Record Office
- Times: 10:30am - 12:00pm
- For the whole family
- Price: £6.75