Follies · East of England
Bateman's Tower
In or near East Mersea.
Bateman's Tower — Folly or eyecatcher.
Hobs — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 20 min–45 min
- Nearest railway station
- Alresford · 5.4 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Bateman's Tower, the nearest railway station is Alresford, located 5.4 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is CO7 0HH, and entry is free.
About
Bateman's Tower is a folly in Essex, East of England — built more for the eye than for any practical purpose, and a reminder of the British landscape's appetite for the eccentric. The site is part of the COLNE ESTUARY National Nature Reserve. It sits within the Harwich and North Essex parliamentary constituency. The nearest railway station is Alresford, about 5.4 km away. Postcode area CO7.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2023
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
Details TM 10 NE 6/54 BRIGHTLINGSEA PROMENADE WAY Bateman's Tower II Tower. Probably circa 1880 for John Bateman. Plastered cement blocks built on a raft. Octagonal of two storeys now with C20 timber viewing structure. Two centred arched windows to both floors of alternate faces excepting north face with two-centred arched doorway, vertically boarded door with strap hinges. Windows now blocked excepting that to first floor facing the sea, with small paned cast iron casement. The building was used as a folly/bathing house but is believed to have been intended as a lighthouse. Plans for a port in this area did not materialise. Listing NGR: TM0766416189 Legacy The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System number: 120181 Legacy System: LBS
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Colne Estuary SSSI
- National Nature Reserve: COLNE ESTUARY
- Ramsar wetland: Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2)
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
Place summary
Bateman's Tower is a folly located in Brightlingsea, Essex, within the East of England. This Grade II listed building is situated near the Colne Estuary, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Ramsar site. The tower adds a distinctive architectural feature to the coastal landscape.
AI-generated from the structured facts on this page (operator, designation, listing, era). Not a substitute for visiting.
- Coordinates
- 51.8058, 1.0108
- County
- Essex
- District
- Tendring
- Parish
- Brightlingsea
- Postcode
- CO7 0HH
- Parliamentary constituency
- Harwich and North Essex
- Nearest railway station
- Alresford — 5.4 km
- Official site
- www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk
Sources
- osm: w552155026 (ODbL)
Other places nearby
River Colne, Essex
Museums · 0.6 km
Brightlingsea Leisure Village
Caravan parks · 0.6 km
Brightlingsea Touring Park
Campsites · 0.7 km
East Essex Aviation Society and Museum (Martello Tower A)
Museums · 0.8 km
Brightlingsea Museum
Museums · 0.8 km
East Mersea Tudor Blockhouse
Historic houses · 1.1 km
Brightlingsea War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 1.1 km
The Brewers Arms Public House
Historic pubs · 1.2 km
Jacobes Hall
Historic houses · 1.3 km
Brightlingsea
Museums · 1.4 km
Cindery Island
Islands · 1.5 km
East Mersea
Towns & cities · 2.0 km
Nearby
📷 5Museums · East of England
River Colne, Essex
River Colne, Essex — a museum in england-east, United Kingdom.
📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Brightlingsea Leisure Village
Brightlingsea Leisure Village — a caravan park in england east.
📷 5Campsites · East of England
Brightlingsea Touring Park
Brightlingsea Touring Park — a campsite in england east.
📷 3Museums · East of England
East Essex Aviation Society and Museum (Martello Tower A)
East Essex Aviation Society and Museum (Martello Tower A) — a museum in england-east, United Kingdom.
📷 3Museums · East of England
Brightlingsea Museum
Brightlingsea Museum — a museum in england-east, United Kingdom.
📷 3Historic houses · East of England
East Mersea Tudor Blockhouse
East Mersea Tudor Blockhouse — a historic house in england-east, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Bateman's Tower
Places to stay
📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Brightlingsea Leisure Village
Brightlingsea Leisure Village — a caravan park in england east.
📷 5Campsites · East of England
Brightlingsea Touring Park
Brightlingsea Touring Park — a campsite in england east.
📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Mersea Island Holiday Park
Mersea Island Holiday Park — a caravan park in england east.
📷 5
📷 5Caravan parks · East of England
Coopers Beach Holiday Park
Coopers Beach Holiday Park — a caravan park in england east. Brand: Parkdean Resorts.
📷 5Places to eat & drink
📷 7Historic pubs · East of England
The Brewers Arms Public House
The Brewers Arms Public House in England East, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · East of England
Dog And Pheasant Public House
Dog And Pheasant Public House in England East, United Kingdom.
📷 7Restaurants · East of England
The Creek
The Creek — a restaurant in england east.
📷 7Historic pubs · East of England
Peldon Rose Public House
Peldon Rose Public House in England East, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · East of England
The Ipswich Arms Public House
The Ipswich Arms Public House in England East, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · East of England
Duke Of York Public House
Duke Of York Public House in England East, United Kingdom.
More follies in this region
📷 5
📷 5Follies · East of England
Audley End Ring Hill Temple
Audley End Ring Hill Temple — Folly or eyecatcher.
📷 5Follies · East of England
Barrington-White mausoleum
Barrington-White mausoleum is a folly in the United Kingdom.
📷 5Follies · East of England
Bridge End Garden Summerhouse
Bridge End Garden Summerhouse — Folly or eyecatcher.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Bateman's Tower?
- Bateman's Tower is in Essex, East of England, United Kingdom (postcode CO7 0HH), in the parish of Brightlingsea.
- What is Bateman's Tower?
- Bateman's Tower — Folly or eyecatcher.
- How do I get to Bateman's Tower?
- The nearest railway station is Alresford, about 5.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode CO7 0HH.
- Is Bateman's Tower a listed building?
- Bateman's Tower is officially recognised as Grade II listed building listed.
- Is Bateman's Tower a protected site?
- Yes — Bateman's Tower is part of the Colne Estuary SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the COLNE ESTUARY National Nature Reserve.
- Is Bateman's Tower free to visit?
- Yes, Bateman's Tower is free to enter.
- How do I get to Bateman's Tower?
- The nearest railway station is Alresford, about 5.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CO7 0HH.