Fat Margaret Tower - Tallinn, Estonia - Retired Prisons on Waymarking.com

The Estonian Maritime Museum, which now occupies Fat Margaret Tower, lists the following about the history of Fat Margaret:

"The Great Coast Gate was first time mentioned in written sources as a coast gate ( “strandporte”, beginning with 1384 as “major strandporte” ). In the course of started in 1510 works a new foregate and a western tower were erected. This tower was named “Fat Margaret” in the first half of XIX century. Fortification complex was mainly built to protect the harbour against the invaders. Author of the first design of the tower was probably master Clemens Pale. The cannon tower Fat Margaret was built among the fortifications of the Big Strand Gate in 1510 - 1529. Building was finished by master Gert Konigk from Münster and in 1531 is the last record in the towns balance book about payment to the workers.

The diameter of the limestone tower is 25 m. The maximum thickness of the walls is over 5,5 m in the lower part and 2,25 m on the top. The height of the tower on the east side is 22 m and 16 m on the west side depending on natural angle of earthground. Same time with the tower was built also the 6,8 m heigh defence wall to the Stolting tower. In 1603 – 1609 to the complex was added also the front gate. Main reconstruction works of the cannon tower were carried out in 1683 – 1704 when the old roof was replaced by higher.
In the late eighteenth century the tower was taken into use as an arsenal and magazine. Since 1830 it served as a prison. In connection to that in the south side of the tower was built in 1884 the administrative building. In the course of the revolution of 2nd March 1917 the convicts were liberated and the tower was set in fire by the mob of workers and sailors. In 1930ties part of the complex buildings were used by the Tallinn City museum.
In the beginnig of 1970ties first plans were made to renovate cannon tower for the needs of Maritime museum. The tower was reconstructed by Polish renovators from 1978 to 1980 and now serves as home to the Estonian Maritime museum. On the four storeys of the museum an overview of the history of Estonian maritime and fishing history is given. On the top of the Fat Margaret tower is possible to enjoy one of the best views to the old town, harbour and the Bay of Tallinn." (visit link)

Address: Pikk 70 Tallinn, Harjumaa Estonia 10133 Open to the public: Yes Hours: Open : Mo – Sun 10.00-18.00 (01.05 - 30.09.2012 ) Open : Tue - Sun 10.00-18.00 (01.10.2012 - 30.04.2013 ) Closed : Mo, 24.-26.12.2012 01.01.2012 open 12.00 - 18.00 Fees?: Ticket 3.20 € Child ticket 1.60 € Family ticket 5.11 € Web link: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log   03/01/2022 drobec visited it 03/12/2020 Jamboree_009 visited it 09/08/2019 leero369 visited it 09/19/2018 Graf 52 visited it 08/27/2018 aendgraend visited it 06/10/2018 Frezona visited it 10/01/2017 finder313 visited it 09/16/2017 åda visited it 06/19/2017 schlbsch visited it 03/05/2017 suviss visited it 12/10/2014 ansu75 visited it 03/04/2014 thepauliina visited it 03/04/2014 Jyffe visited it 12/14/2013 Rymyhomie visited it 10/27/2013 Jouni Jurmu visited it 09/16/2013 Cpt. Feldi visited it 07/14/2013 peltzi visited it 05/29/2013 stebu visited it 05/26/2013 Team_Ikarus visited it 04/25/2013 Chick Magnet 75 visited it 03/24/2013 Hennuska visited it 12/01/2012 PWulff visited it 11/18/2012 laalaa visited it 08/14/2012 Chasing Blue Sky visited it 07/16/2012 dajumaro visited it

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