Community and Partners Rally to Conserve West Stourmouth Bell Turret
Repair and conservation work has now begun on the historic bell turret at All Saints’ Church in West Stourmouth, Kent, following the completion of a successful Community Initiative Project in partnership with the Friends of Stourmouth Church and the Churches Conservation Trust. This work has been able to take place partly due to the fundraising initiatives of the friends’ group and local community, but also a generous grant of £21,200 awarded by the Rochester Bridge Trust.
Initially the work involved the removal and replacement of damaged timber weatherboarding and general repairs to the tower, but during the early phase of conservation, and after the boarding had been removed, it was noticed that there were further structural repairs required, resulting in an inflation of costs. With the project in the balance, both the Friends of Stourmouth Church and Rochester Bridge Trust increased their already substantial contributions towards the repair, allowing for the work to continue and meaning the project didn’t stall at the final phase.
The repair and conservation work at West Stourmouth is due to be completed early in 2026, with plans for community engagement activities to take place early in the year. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all of those who supported this project; the CCT’s regional and conservation projects team in the southeast, the Friends of Stourmouth Church, the architects Lee Evans Partnership LLP, and the contractors carrying out the repair, Goodsell Builders.
Nick Watts – Grants Officer, Churches Conservation Trust
Date written: 17th December 2025