T h e  T o w e r  o f  t h e  W i n d s

(Compass Point Tower)


Bude on Cornwall's north coast has been a busy destination for holiday makers and day trippers alike for decades, it has a large beach, with golden sands. It has always been particularly popular amongst visiting surfer's with clean water, strong tides and long rolling waves. Perhaps even the finest surfing conditions to be had anywhere in England are here. Board Hire and Instruction is available during the summer months, should you wish to give it a try.. However, I decided to give the surfing lessons a miss, and set about following the coastal path up on to the cliffs and headland in search of something else...

Compass point is on the south western coast path, on Penhalt Cliffs overlooking Bude. It rises to over 110 ft above sea level with stunning views across the bay and out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Built right on the edge of the cliff, in a position similar to Doyden Point's castellated little tower proudly stands The Tower of The Winds, also known by its other name, the Compass Point Tower.

It was first erected in the 1830's as a storm tower, by Sir Thomas Dyke Acland. It is an octagonal tower set on a short plinth, built out of large bricks with arrow slit windows, an elegant doorway and a crucifix topping off its slightly conical roof.

Inscripted on each of the tower's 8 sides is a compass point. These orginally gave the correct points of the compass, but in the 1880's the cliff began to erode and the tower was in danger of disappearing forever into the ocean below. So the tower was dismantled and moved to its present safer position along the cliff, where it was re-erected. However, the tower's compass points do not line up correctly anymore, perhaps the builder's purposely overlooked it.

Below, The bricks making up the conical ceiling inside the tower are a myriad of different colours.

Further interior photographs here:

Visiting

Compass Point Tower is easily reached from Bude by simply following the western coastal path from the beach. Parking may be a problem during the summer season.

 

Co-ords 220000 106300 / SS 200 063  

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