June 2005

Two Essex solicitors who helped to secure the future of the Naze Tower in Walton-on-Naze as a visitor attraction have been made honorary ‘Friends’ of the tower as a thank-you by its new sole proprietor, business woman Michelle Nye-Browne.

The 285 year old NazeTower, which opened for the first time as a visitor attraction last year and has panoramic views of the coastline from its top, has now been saved from going back onto the open market, which threatened its closure to the public.

Mary Anne Fedeyko who heads up the commercial law team at Essex solicitors Thompson Smith & Puxon and solicitor colleague Sumaira Choudary, helped Michelle Nye-Browne to buy out the share of the tower previously owned by her business partner.

Now art lover and entrepreneur Michelle, aged 31, who exhibits art by leading local and national artists across the tower’s seven floors, will be at the forefront of a campaign to save the cliffs at Walton from continuing their crumble into the sea. In just twenty years the 86 foot tower, which has 111 steps to the top, will topple over the cliffs if sea defences aren’t built quickly.

“It was a very tricky situation and the danger was that the tower would have been sold to a private owner, threatening its closure as a visitor attraction. I’m really pleased that Mary Anne and Sumaira helped me with the complex negotiations to secure my sole ownership and I’m delighted I can now move ahead. A priority is to work with the Naze Protection Society to campaign to save the cliffs, or the tower will be lost in twenty years”, said Michelle Nye-Browne. Michelle has an MA in Gallery Studies from Essex University and was Marketing Officer at the Firstsite Gallery in Colchester for four years before purchasing the tower with her partner in 2003.

A new art exhibition ‘A Female Line’ opens at the Naze Tower on 18 June with sculptures and drawings by nationally renowned artists Hazel and Jessica Albarn, a mother and daughter who are both inspired by the natural environment.

Michelle will continue with further restoration work which will include opening a display about the NazeTower history and undertaking building work so the tea rooms that already occupy the tower’s ground, first and second floors have sea views.

The NazeTower is open from Easter until the end of October every day from 10am – 5pm and at Weekends in November. For more information, to check opening hours and details of how to become a ‘Friend’ of the tower, telephone 07966 776417.