MS Oakes was commissioned by Suffolk Coastal District Council to carry out essential repair, refurbishment, and demolition works on the Grade II Listed Martello Tower, owned by the Landmark Trust. Throughout the project, we worked closely with the Landmark Trust and a Listed Building Consultant to ensure the integrity of the building was preserved.
The project involved the careful demolition of later additions, including the toilet block adjoining the tower and the rooftop flagpole. Exterior works included the removal of loose sections of external render and the two-metre-high brick skirt around the base of the tower. Our in-house specialists then re-pointed the stone parapet copings and brick parapets using lime mortar and replaced the removed render with a traditional lime-based render. We also restored the original entrance door and carried out repairs to both the stone and brickwork.
Internally, we chemically removed decorative coatings from the brickwork and vaulted ceilings. The previously added concrete floor was broken out and reduced in level to make way for a limecrete floor, consistent with the original flooring of the Tower.
Given the historic nature of the building, all work was carried out by hand. As the ground floor of the Tower is essentially an above-ground basement, all materials and waste had to be lifted in and out via the first floor.
Throughout the project, there was significant public interest and we kept the public informed of the progress and activities taking place.
The works were completed successfully within 14 weeks, to the satisfaction of both the Landmark Trust and the Conservation Officer.
By MS Oakes
