Work to protect Exmouth NCI's watchtower in Queen's Drive is set to begin in June.

The heavy rain and storms over the winter have 'compromised the security of the building' so in the warmer summer months, the charity has decided to get to work repairing the tower.

The decision was made to erect a scaffold around the tower to survey the external fabric and prepare a list of the required repairs. They were helped by Avocet Heron Scaffolding.

Meanwhile, the facilities team has removed all the redundant cables and bracketry enabling a comprehensive survey of the buildings fabric to be undertaken.

Patch repair and repoint damaged brickwork – Andy Daniels from MPS Windows will repair all windows and make them watertight and the brickwork will be weather-protected with Stormdry Protective Cream, generously supplied by Brewers Foundation.

Martyn Thompson said: "Over 128 years the Tower has suffered the ravages of coastal weather to the point that during the 2023 winter the Tower fabric was letting in a considerable amount of rainwater.

"In this state it was not fit for purpose and could compromise our ability to maintain an effective asset to the UK Search & Rescue services.

"As Exmouth NCI are a charity with limited funds, they have enlisted the help of local companies to undertake the work who are rising to the challenge and will commence the work in June.

"With this work undertaken the external fabric of the Tower will be better protected and provide NCI with a home for many years to come."

Exmouth NCI Coastwatch wish to thank EDDC and all the companies that have helped undertake this work, without their contribution the future of NCI in the Exmouth Lookout Tower would have been uncertain.

The Tower was designed and built over the winters of 1895 and 1896 and has had many uses during its life.

Exmouth NCI is part of the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI)and was established in 1998 as the thirteenth station of, now some 60 similar watch Stations.