St Mary’s Church, Portsea – Renovation of Tower

After 120 years of exposure to the sea air and city pollution, the Tower is in much need of restoration and repair – parts of it have eroded away, others are in danger of crumbling. St Mary’s Portsea is grade II* listed and the oldest church site on the island of Portsmouth and has a known history stretching back to the 11th century. The present church was built in 1888 and the Tower with a church attached dominates the centre of the island and rises high above the surrounding houses. Without restoration the city could lose one of its familiar (and one of the oldest surviving) features. The initial project is for restoration of the stonework to the upper sections of the Tower.