Bude’s iconic Pepper Pot is entering the next stage in a project to restore and relocate it.

The Compass Point Project is working to save one of Bude’s most iconic images. The Storm Tower, or Pepper Pot, as it is also known has been a staple image in Bude for nearly 200 years, however, visitors to the town might not recognise the tower in its current condition.

Work is being undertaken to relocate the pepper pot further in land in order to save it from the possibly detrimental affects for coastal erosion.

The project is now in its twelfth week, and the dismantling process is well underway. Stone is being ‘systematically marked’ as it is removed from the site to allow the rebuilding process to recreate the original structure as accurately as possible.

Speaking about the most recent progress in the project, a spokesperson for Bude-Stratton Town Council said: “The dismantling process has progressed, allowing us to uncover intriguing finds. Despite meticulous surveys, working with the stonework revealed unexpected challenges. The fragile state of the stone has made preservation difficult, but we have been careful to salvage as much of the original stone as possible.

“To ensure the reconstruction is accurate, the removed stone is being systematically marked and laid out on numbered pallets, providing precise location references for rebuilding the tower. The collection of stone pallets stretches a long way, showcasing the immense scale of this stone jigsaw puzzle. It’s well worth a visit to the site to witness this incredible sight for yourself.”