Adjacent to this tower is an underground Cold War bunker built in the 1950s and decommissioned only a few years later, adding another layer of historical significance.
HM Coastguard built the first lookout on Martello tower P in 1934. The current lookout was built in 1979. With changing priorities and efficiency drives in the 1990s coastal lookouts were closed down and HM Coastguard focused more on the provision of co-ordinated search and rescue services. HM Coastguard closed their Felixstowe lookout in 1994.
In 1995 the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) Felixstowe station was a caravan which was towed each weekend into position for observations. This graduated to a large beach hut mounted on oil drums and concrete and, on 26 April 1996, moved into its present home - the recently vacated HM Coastguard lookout on top of Martello tower P.
Latest news
We have finished the volunteer Research project with the Suffolk Archives and are eagerly anticipating the launch of the new interpretation materials at our upcoming Easter Tower Open Day on Weds 8 April 2026 11am – 2pm.
East Suffolk Council have been successful in our application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop the feasibility of a heritage attraction at the site which aims to help secure a sustainable future for the tower.