Appley Tower Heritage Project
The Appley Tower Heritage Project will ensure that the iconic landmark on Ryde seafront may be enjoyed by the community for many years to come, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Latest news...
With the builders now working on the roof of the Tower, there is scaffolding on the inside as well as the outside, making it rather tricky for our tall architect!
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Get involved...
As well as the restoration of the building itself, community engagement activities shall be taking place throughout the duration of the project. If you would like your group to get involved, please contact rachael.ardley@naturalenterprise.co.uk.
Learn new skills...
The project also gives the local community the chance to learn new skills. Volunteers have been trained in historical research skills and the resulting information shall inform three exhibitions: Appley Tower Postcards – what they tell us about tourism on the Isle of Wight; 150 years of Solent Views and Appley Tower 150th Anniversary. These shall be on display at the Tower following the completion of the restoration work.
In May 2024, we will be training volunteer guides, who will be able to share their knowledge of the Tower's fascinating history with visitors. If you are interested in becoming a guide, please complete the form below.
To read Ken Dueck's Historical Research Report click here.
Beyond the project...
To ensure a sustainable future for the building, its maintenance costs will be funded by the hire of four new beach huts. These are being administered by Monkton Arts, who will become tenants within Appley Tower.
How the project evolved...
The 2019 Appley Tower Feasibility Study, funded by the Coastal Revival Fund, determined the cost to bring the Tower into a good state of repair and carry out vital improvements, establish the future annual maintenance costs, explore the income generating options and provided an evidence base to secure future funding.
The next stage of the project was to build on the findings of the Feasibility Study and develop a detailed proposal to raise the funds required to carry out the essential repairs to the tower and establish a sustainable future. One where the tower is able to self-fund the annual cost to keep it in a good state of repair. Support received from the Architectural Heritage Fund allowed us to move to the next and final development stage.
In 2023, The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded Natural Enterprise funding to deliver an Appley Tower heritage engagement project. This will include undertaking vital repairs to the tower and to restore access to the roof via a new mezzanine floor, researching and sharing the rich history of the tower and Sir William Hutt, who had the tower built, and the holding of three exhibitions.
