Naze Tower

The Hanoverian tower stands at the edge of the Naze, a stretch of open land near Frinton and Walton. Built in 1720–21 by Trinity House, it once guided ships through the Goldmer Gap alongside Walton Hall Tower. Earlier versions of the tower appear on maps from the late 1500s and 1673. The present structure replaced an older beacon that lit lamps to warn vessels. Over the centuries it served as a tea house, lookout post and radar station during wartime. The tower is Grade II* listed and privately owned since 1986. It houses a small museum about the tower’s history, local ecology and geology, and the threat of coastal erosion. A spiral staircase of 111 steps leads to the top, offering views across the beach and countryside. The owners opened it to the public in 2005 after refurbishment. A 110-metre footpath called Crag Walk was built in 2011 to slow erosion around the base. Visitors find changing art exhibitions on six floors, a tea room and panoramic views from the summit. The museum displays explain how the tower once worked with Walton Hall Tower to guide ships. Exhibits also cover the geology of the Naze and the ongoing battle against coastal erosion. The tower’s past uses include a tea house run by the actress Martha Reay in the 18th century. Its crenellations were removed during the Second World War to fit a radar dish.