[1] The tower was built in 1835 on the instructions of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 10th Baronet, to a design by George Wightwick, as a place from which coastguards could observe ships on the adjacent Atlantic Ocean.

[1][3] Historic England describe it thus:[3] Roughly-dressed stone brought to course with freestone quoins... on plinth with 3 granite steps up to entrance on east side.

[1] As built, the tower was aligned to magnetic north, but polar drift means this is now seven degrees out.

[1] Because of the ongoing threat of erosion, the tower was again dismantled and reconstructed 100 metres (110 yd) further inland, at a cost of around £450,000, over a six-month period starting in late April 2023 and finishing in March 2024.

[2] The tower has been Grade II listed since September 1985,[3] giving it legal protection against unauthorised alteration or demolition.