In June 1979, after a campaign by The Brunel Tower Action Group, who were based in Starcross, an application against a decision to refuse demolishment of Starcross's Brunel Atmospheric Tower and Pumping Station was withdrawn
Here's the link on the Teignbridge Planning website
The building was saved by Mr and Mrs Dick Forester, who moved into the derelict site with their family. They opened it as a museum about Brunel's Atmospheric Railway.
The Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club are now the proud owners of the tower, and they are anxious to preserve it. They acquired some old red sandstone which they had hoped to use to restore and preserve the tower, which Brunel built using local red sandstone from a now closed quarry. Sandstone has proved to be prone to weathering,
Planning permission was granted in 2009 for remedial work on the wall alongside the A379. The work was not allowed to be other than render. The result is a pink wall that doesn't blend in with the original red sandstone.
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| The rendered wall next to original red sandstone |
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| The original red sandstone at the entrance to The Brunel Tower |
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| The rendered wall adjacent to original sandstone wall |
The 2022 planning application by The Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club, for repairs and rendering to the stonework has been withdrawn. Documents associated with this planning application include a forthright letter from " The Victorian Society (Listed Building Society) "
The Victorian Society object to the proposal and want it to be withdrawn so that a new application can have the input of a stone conservation specialist. Their letter can be viewed in the associated documents on this link
Link to the withdrawn planning application f or remedial work to the crumbling walls
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