Bude's historic lookout tower moved inland

The 188-year-old coastguard's tower in Cornwall is being relocated 100m to save it from coastal erosion.

The historic coastal lookout tower in Bude is being moved inland brick by brick - to protect it from falling into the sea. The 188-year-old coastguard's tower is being relocated 100m to save it from coastal erosion.

The Grade II-listed Compass Point Storm Tower - known as the Pepperpot - sits on a clifftop overlooking the Atlantic. Built from sandstone and shale, it has saved the lives of countless sailors over the past two centuries.

Designed by George Wightwick, the tower has eight sides that map the points of a compass. A coastguard would sit inside during high tides and storms and use a flagpole to alert ships.

The tower is being moved to stop it from falling into the sea - it was previously relocated in 1881 for the same reason. The work, which started earlier this month, was originally planned to be completed by the end of summer.

The historic lookout tower in Bude is being moved brick by brick

It is being moved to protect it from the sea

The 188-year-old coastguard’s tower is being relocated 100m to save it from coastal erosion

Mick Robson captured on July 20, 2023, as the Bude Tower construction worker saves an etching that his late friend Kev put into the tower in the 1970s

The Grade II-listed tower Compass Point Storm Tower - known as the Pepperpot - sits on a clifftop near Bude

The tower overlooks the Atlantic

Built from sandstone and shale, the tower has saved the lives of countless sailors over the past two centuries.

The work is being undertaken by experts