Repairs to historic harbour wall completed

Work to repair a hole in a historic harbour wall has been successfully completed.

The void in the base of The Cobb in Lyme Regis was first discovered during inspections in 2025.

Teams from Dorset Council used a low spring tide to secure the wall on Monday and Tuesday, after previous attempts were thwarted by poor weather and other issues.

Council leader Nick Ireland described The Cobb as "a big part of the town's identity" and said he was "absolutely delighted" the work had taken place.

"It has been a complex and carefully timed operation with our engineers having to work around tides, weather and in a very exposed spot," he said.

Engineers prepared the site and installed a specialist concrete mattress bag before filling it with concrete to structurally secure the base of the wall.

The void, which was roughly the size of a small car, had previously been protected with rock-filled bags in November to limit further erosion over winter.

The repair is expected to gradually blend in with the surrounding stonework over the coming weeks and the area will be monitored as part of ongoing maintenance.

It follows £6.2m of funding being approved by the council's cabinet in April to safeguard the wall's long-term future.

Dorset Council, Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency have now formed a joint working group to finalise a longer-term strategy to stabilise The Cobb.

Ireland thanked residents, businesses and visitors for their patience during the works, adding: "These are essential repairs that help us look after The Cobb for the future."