Bateman's Tower

Bateman’s Tower stands on the edge of Brightlingsea Creek in Essex, a small octagonal cement tower built in about 1880. It leans noticeably to one side, earning the nickname the ‘leaning tower of Brightlingsea’. The tower has two floors, each with two arched windows on alternate sides, though only the first-floor window facing the sea remains open. Its foundations were made from bundles of wood, which caused the lean from the start. The building is Grade II listed, recognised for its historic interest in 1987. Local magnate John Bateman had the tower constructed, though its exact purpose remains unclear. The tower may have been intended as a lighthouse for a planned harbour expansion that never happened. Another idea is that it served as a folly where Bateman’s daughter Agnes could recover from tuberculosis with sea air. During the Second World War the British Army took it over as an observation post and removed the roof, leaving it roofless until 2005. A replica roof was then installed using a £28,100 grant from the Heritage Lottery. Today the tower is used by sailing clubs such as the Colne Yacht Club. Visitors see a two-storey structure topped by a wooden viewing platform with a copper roof, a 2005 reconstruction. The blocked windows and the lean give the tower a distinctive appearance. It overlooks Brightlingsea Creek, where boats move in and out with the tide. Plans for a nearby café have been approved but are not yet realised. The tower remains a quiet landmark, standing close to the water with its unusual tilt.