History

Records have been found of an 18th century signal station located on Beer Head. The location has been inhabited since the late 1700’s as an early warning signal station built for the Napoleonic war, as a station to combat smuggling in the nineteenth century and as a coastguard lookout in the twentieth century.

In 1910, a 24 hour watch took place here from the time of smuggling until the mid 1930s. In 1960, The Ordnance Survey used the top of the tower as a Trigonometry Station with OS records found in Kew Gardens, London.

Renovation

Over time, the coastal weather conditions on the cliff top took its toll on the old building and it was time to bring The Lookout Tower into the 21st century.

To preserve the sense of history the original structure has been almost entirely kept; with a considered extension added to allow a little more room and comfort.

An environmental approach was an important consideration for us at the outset of renovation. Heating is from an air source heat pump with the electricity partly offset by solar. Water supplied from our borehole, so pure that it needs no treatment other than UV filtration. Bee bricks and swallow cups have been installed and in the building process wherever possible, materials and skills have been utilised locally.

We were also keen to improve the Tower with disability access in mind, so there is parking right outside the front door, all doorways are wide enough for a wheelchair,  the shower room is a wet room and each floor is connected by a pneumatic vacuum operated lift. The lift is not large enough for a wheelchair but a seat is provided so that with help each floor is accessible.