Dymchurch Martello Tower 24 Conservation Repair Work 2019

Tender description

The Project seeks to deliver a programme of essential conservation repair works to the tower which includes devegetation, dealing with defective pointing and deep tampering of open joints focusing on known areas of water ingress (i.e. the brick parapets and coping stones), removal of mould, stalactites, wood replacement and treatment, and lime washing to the interior which is currently in a poor condition, as well as repairs to the flagpole on the roof. The proposed maintenance works are needed to understand the building's performance with an ultimate aim of reducing water ingress and creating a more sustainable condition for management and safe access by staff, volunteers and visitors. There will also be some limited addition of defects remediation work such as repairs to the windows and sills, as well as a proposed works trial to remove a small section of coping stones to inform any future phases of the work. The building is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade II Listed and one of a chain of forts built along the South Coast between 1805 and 1812 to protect against the threat of an invasion by Napoleonic forces. The building is the most accurate example remaining of an original Martello tower and closest to its original condition when occupied by the military in 1806.