# Naze Tower > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Naze_Tower > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Naze_Tower.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naze_Tower > Source revision: 1353197462 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Lighthouse Naze Tower Naze Tower Location Near Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, England OS grid TM2648623539 Coordinates 51°52′08″N 1°16′46″E / 51.868966°N 1.279564°E / 51.868966; 1.279564 Tower Constructed 1720 Construction Brick Height 86 ft (26 m) Shape Octagonal Heritage Grade II* listed building The [Hanoverian](/source/House_of_Hanover) tower, more commonly known as the **Naze Tower**, is situated at the start of the open area of [the Naze](/source/The_Naze). It was a [navigational tower](/source/Sea_mark), constructed to assist ships on this otherwise fairly feature-less coast. Visitors can climb the 111-step spiral staircase to the top of the 86-foot (26 m) tower for a 360 degree view of the beach and countryside. The Naze Tower features a [museum](/source/Museum) with exhibits about the tower, the [ecology](/source/Ecology) and [geology](/source/Geology) of the Naze, and the [coastal erosion](/source/Coastal_erosion) problem. The tower also features a [private art gallery](/source/Art_museum) on six floors with changing exhibits several times a year, and a tea room. The tower is privately owned. The tower is a Grade II* [listed building](/source/Listed_building).[1] ## History Tower at the Naze point in 1800, by [John Thomas Smith](/source/John_Thomas_Smith_(engraver)) The Naze Tower (before 1837), attributed to [John Constable](/source/John_Constable) The present tower was built in 1720–21 by [Trinity House](/source/Trinity_House), and was intended to work in conjunction with Walton Hall Tower to guide vessels through the Goldmer Gap.[2] Towers at Naze and at Walton Hall are marked on a map of 1673 by [Richard Blome](/source/Richard_Blome), which in turn was based on a map drawn up in the late 1500s.[3] The present Naze Tower therefore replaced an earlier construction at a similar location. It was of particular benefit to ships using the nearby port of [Harwich](/source/Harwich). Both the current Naze Tower and its predecessor had beacons or lamps lit at the top, providing an early form of lighthouse.[4] Over the years, the tower has had a variety of uses. In the eighteenth century it was a tea house, operated by the actress and aristocrats' mistress, Martha Reay. It was a lookout during the [Napoleonic Wars](/source/Napoleonic_Wars) and again during the [Great War](/source/World_War_I) of 1914–18. In the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II) it was used as a radar station, with its crenellations removed to accommodate a [radar](/source/Radar) dish.[4] Naze Tower was given Grade II* listed status in 1984 by [English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage).[2] Since 1986, it has been in private ownership.[4] The current owners purchased the tower in 1996, and after refurbishment, opened it to the public in 2005.[5] The tower is at significant risk from both structural decay and coastal [erosion](/source/Erosion). In 2011, a £1.2m project saw the construction of 'Crag Walk', a 110 metres (360 ft) long footpath, to slow the rate of erosion.[6] In 2015 the tower was re-added to the [Heritage at Risk Register](/source/Heritage_at_Risk_Register),[7] but was removed once more after restoration works to address damp problems.[8] The view south from the top of Naze Tower, looking over the Naze to Walton town and pier ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Naze Tower, Frinton and Walton - 1165846 | Historic England"](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1165846). *historicengland.org.uk*. Retrieved 8 May 2026. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-blb_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-blb_2-1) English Heritage. ["British Listed Buildings"](http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-119945-naze-tower-frinton-and-walton-essex). British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 31 March 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** English Heritage. ["British Listed Buildings: Tower at Walton Hall"](http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-119937-navigation-tower-at-walton-hall-frinton-). British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 31 March 2013. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-naze_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-naze_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-naze_4-2) Nye-Browne, Michelle. *Naze Tower: past, present and future*. Walton on the Naze: Naze Tower. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Walton-on-the-Naze tower: Life running the Essex landmark"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ypzp141vro). *BBC News*. 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Walton-on-the Naze coastal erosion project completed"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-12983584). *BBC News*. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Historic Naze Tower put on at-risk list to help save it"](https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/13883068.historic-naze-tower-put-on-at-risk-list-to-help-save-it/). *Gazette*. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Naze Tower re-opens after £250,000 facelift on Essex coast"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-35893857). *BBC News*. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2026. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Naze Tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naze_Tower) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naze_Tower?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.