Description

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: TR3954570282

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26532260

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)