diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 8e9073b7c7..1152425193 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -98,16 +98,22 @@ set(INPUT_HEADER
     components/engine/input/poller.hpp)
 source_group(input FILES ${INPUT} ${INPUT_HEADER})
 
-set(MISC 
-    components/misc/stringops.cpp 
-    components/misc/fileops.cpp)
-set(MISC_HEADER 
-    components/misc/fileops.hpp 
-    components/misc/slice_array.hpp
-    components/misc/stringops.hpp)
+set(COMMANDSERVER
+    components/commandserver/server.hpp
+    components/commandserver/server.cpp)
+source_group(commandserver FILES ${COMMANDSERVER})    
+
+set(MISC 
+    components/misc/stringops.cpp 
+    components/misc/fileops.cpp)
+set(MISC_HEADER 
+    components/misc/fileops.hpp 
+    components/misc/slice_array.hpp
+    components/misc/stringops.hpp
+    components/misc/tsdeque.hpp)
 source_group(misc FILES ${MISC} ${MISC_HEADER})   
 
-set(COMPONENTS ${BSA} ${NIF} ${NIFOGRE} ${ESM_STORE} ${OGRE} ${INPUT} ${MISC})
+set(COMPONENTS ${BSA} ${NIF} ${NIFOGRE} ${ESM_STORE} ${OGRE} ${INPUT} ${COMMANDSERVER} ${MISC})
 set(COMPONENTS_HEADER ${BSA_HEADER} ${NIF_HEADER} ${NIFOGRE_HEADER} ${ESM_STORE_HEADER}
     ${ESM_HEADER} ${OGRE_HEADER} ${INPUT_HEADER} ${MISC_HEADER})
     
@@ -137,7 +143,7 @@ include_directories("."
     ${CMAKE_HOME_DIRECTORY}/extern/caelum/include)
 link_directories(${Boost_LIBRARY_DIRS} ${OGRE_LIB_DIR})
 
-ADD_SUBDIRECTORY( extern/caelum )
+add_subdirectory( extern/caelum )
 
 # Specify build paths
 
@@ -189,6 +195,9 @@ if (APPLE)
     target_link_libraries(openmw ${CARBON_FRAMEWORK})
 endif (APPLE)
 
+# Other apps and tools
+add_subdirectory( apps/clientconsole )
+
 # Apple bundling
 if (APPLE)
   set_source_files_properties(
diff --git a/apps/clientconsole/CMakeLists.txt b/apps/clientconsole/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..e6885841f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/clientconsole/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+project(clientconsole)
+add_executable(clientconsole client.cpp)
diff --git a/apps/clientconsole/client.cpp b/apps/clientconsole/client.cpp
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..dac95ce993
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/clientconsole/client.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+#include <iostream>
+#include <boost/array.hpp>
+#include <boost/asio.hpp>
+
+using boost::asio::ip::tcp;
+
+#pragma warning( disable : 4966 )
+
+class Client
+{
+protected:
+    boost::asio::io_service mIOService;
+    tcp::socket* mpSocket;
+
+public:
+
+    bool connect(const char* port)
+    {
+        tcp::resolver resolver(mIOService);
+        tcp::resolver::query query("localhost", port);
+        tcp::resolver::iterator endpoint_iterator = resolver.resolve(query);
+        tcp::resolver::iterator end;
+
+        mpSocket = new tcp::socket(mIOService);
+        boost::system::error_code error = boost::asio::error::host_not_found;
+        while (error && endpoint_iterator != end)
+        {
+            mpSocket->close();
+            mpSocket->connect(*endpoint_iterator++, error);
+        }
+
+        return (error) ? false : true;
+    }
+    void disconnect()
+    {
+        mpSocket->close();
+        mIOService.stop();
+    }
+
+    bool send (const char* msg)
+    {
+        struct Header
+        {
+            char            magic[4];
+            boost::uint32_t dataLength;
+        };
+        const size_t slen = strlen(msg);
+        const size_t plen = sizeof(Header) + slen + 1;
+        
+        std::vector<char> packet(plen);
+        Header* pHeader = reinterpret_cast<Header*>(&packet[0]);
+        strncpy(pHeader->magic, "OMW0", 4);
+        pHeader->dataLength = slen + 1;     // Include the null terminator
+        strncpy(&packet[8], msg, pHeader->dataLength); 
+
+        boost::system::error_code ec;
+        boost::asio::write(*mpSocket, boost::asio::buffer(packet), 
+                           boost::asio::transfer_all(), ec);     
+        if (ec)
+            std::cout << "Error: " << ec.message() << std::endl;
+        
+        return !ec;
+    }
+};
+
+
+int main(int argc, char* argv[])
+{
+    std::cout << "OpenMW client console" << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "=====================" << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "Type 'quit' to exit." << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "Connecting...";
+
+    Client client;
+    if (client.connect("27917"))
+    {
+        std::cout << "success." << std::endl;
+        
+        bool bDone = false;
+        do
+        {
+            std::cout << "> ";
+            char buffer[1024];
+            gets(buffer);
+
+            if (std::string(buffer) != "quit")
+                bDone = !client.send(buffer);
+            else
+                bDone = true;
+        } while (!bDone);
+
+        client.disconnect();
+    }
+    else
+        std::cout << "failed." << std::endl;
+    
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
index f431e51bdc..601df6354c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
@@ -14,10 +14,25 @@
 #include "apps/openmw/mwrender/playerpos.hpp"
 #include "apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.hpp"
 
+class ProcessCommandsHook : public Ogre::FrameListener
+{
+public:
+  ProcessCommandsHook(OMW::Engine* pEngine) : mpEngine (pEngine) {}
+  virtual bool frameStarted(const Ogre::FrameEvent& evt)
+  {
+      mpEngine->processCommands();
+      return true;
+  }
+protected:
+  OMW::Engine* mpEngine;
+};
+
+
 OMW::Engine::Engine() 
     : mEnableSky   (false)
     , mpSkyManager (NULL)
 {
+    mspCommandServer.reset(new OMW::CommandServer::Server(&mCommands, kCommandServerPort));
 }
 
 // Load all BSA files in data directory.
@@ -83,6 +98,16 @@ void OMW::Engine::enableSky (bool bEnable)
     mEnableSky = bEnable;
 }
 
+void OMW::Engine::processCommands()
+{
+    std::string msg;
+    while (mCommands.pop_front(msg))
+    {
+        ///\todo Add actual processing of the received command strings
+        std::cout << "Command: '" << msg << "'" << std::endl;
+    } 
+}
+
 // Initialise and enter main loop.
 
 void OMW::Engine::go()
@@ -146,11 +171,17 @@ void OMW::Engine::go()
     // Sets up the input system
     MWInput::MWInputManager input(mOgre, player);
 
+    // Launch the console server
+    std::cout << "Starting command server on port " << kCommandServerPort << std::endl;
+    mspCommandServer->start();
+    mOgre.getRoot()->addFrameListener( new ProcessCommandsHook(this) );
+
     std::cout << "\nStart! Press Q/ESC or close window to exit.\n";
 
     // Start the main rendering loop
     mOgre.start();
 
+    mspCommandServer->stop();
     delete mpSkyManager;
 
     std::cout << "\nThat's all for now!\n";
diff --git a/apps/openmw/engine.hpp b/apps/openmw/engine.hpp
index ae69f52b45..7874070192 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/engine.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/engine.hpp
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 
 #include "apps/openmw/mwrender/mwscene.hpp"
+#include "components/misc/tsdeque.hpp"
+#include "components/commandserver/server.hpp"
+
 
 namespace MWRender
 {
@@ -18,6 +21,8 @@ namespace OMW
 
     class Engine
     {
+            enum { kCommandServerPort = 27917 };
+
             boost::filesystem::path mDataDir;
             Render::OgreRenderer mOgre;
             std::string mCellName;
@@ -26,6 +31,9 @@ namespace OMW
             bool                  mEnableSky;
             MWRender::SkyManager* mpSkyManager;
 
+            TsDeque<std::string>                      mCommands;
+            std::auto_ptr<OMW::CommandServer::Server> mspCommandServer;
+
             // not implemented
             Engine (const Engine&);
             Engine& operator= (const Engine&);
@@ -55,6 +63,9 @@ namespace OMW
             /// Enables rendering of the sky (off by default).
             void enableSky (bool bEnable);
 
+            /// Process pending commands
+            void processCommands();
+
             /// Initialise and enter main loop.
             void go();
     };
diff --git a/components/commandserver/server.cpp b/components/commandserver/server.cpp
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..94ce03f97a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/commandserver/server.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+
+#include "server.hpp"
+
+using boost::asio::ip::tcp;
+
+//
+// Namespace for containing implementation details that the
+// rest of OpenMW doesn't need to worry about
+//
+namespace OMW { namespace CommandServer { namespace Detail {
+
+    ///
+    /// Tracks an active connection to the CommandServer
+    ///
+    class Connection
+    {      
+    public:
+        Connection (boost::asio::io_service& io_service, Server* pServer);
+
+        void         start();     
+        void         stop();
+        tcp::socket& socket();
+
+    protected:
+        void handle ();
+
+        tcp::socket     mSocket;
+        Server*         mpServer;
+        boost::thread*  mpThread;
+    };
+
+    Connection::Connection (boost::asio::io_service& io_service, Server* pServer)
+        : mSocket  (io_service)
+        , mpServer (pServer)
+    {
+    }
+
+    void Connection::start()
+    {
+        mpThread = new boost::thread(boost::bind(&Connection::handle, this));
+    }
+    
+    ///
+    /// Stops and disconnects the connection
+    ///
+    void Connection::stop()
+    {
+        mSocket.close();
+        mpThread->join();
+    }
+
+    tcp::socket& Connection::socket()
+    {
+        return mSocket;
+    }
+       
+    void Connection::handle ()
+    {
+        bool bDone = false;
+        while (!bDone)
+        {
+            struct Header
+            {
+                char   magic[4];
+                size_t dataLength;
+            } header;
+
+            // Read the header
+            boost::system::error_code error;
+            mSocket.read_some(boost::asio::buffer(&header, sizeof(Header)), error);
+
+            if (error != boost::asio::error::eof)
+            {
+                if (strncmp(header.magic, "OMW0", 4) == 0)
+                {
+                    std::vector<char> msg;
+                    msg.resize(header.dataLength);
+                    
+                    boost::system::error_code error;
+                    mSocket.read_some(boost::asio::buffer(&msg[0], header.dataLength), error);
+                    if (!error)
+                        mpServer->postMessage( &msg[0] );
+                    else
+                        bDone = true;
+                }
+                else
+                    throw std::exception("Unexpected header!");
+            }
+            else
+                bDone = true;
+        }
+        mpServer->removeConnection(this);
+    }
+   
+}}}
+
+namespace OMW { namespace CommandServer { 
+
+    using namespace Detail;
+       
+    Server::Server (Deque* pDeque, const int port)
+        : mAcceptor   (mIOService, tcp::endpoint(tcp::v4(), port))
+        , mpCommands  (pDeque)
+        , mbStopping  (false)
+    {       
+    }
+       
+
+    void Server::start()
+    {
+        mIOService.run();
+        mpThread = new boost::thread(boost::bind(&Server::threadMain, this));
+    }
+
+    void Server::stop()
+    {
+        // (1) Stop accepting new connections
+        // (2) Wait for the listener thread to finish
+        mAcceptor.close();
+        mpThread->join();
+
+        // Now that no new connections are possible, close any existing
+        // open connections
+        {
+            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(mConnectionsMutex);
+            mbStopping = true;
+            for (ConnectionSet::iterator it = mConnections.begin(); 
+                 it != mConnections.end();
+                 ++it)
+            {
+                (*it)->stop();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    void Server::removeConnection (Connection* ptr)
+    {
+        // If the server is shutting down (rather the client closing the
+        // connection), don't remove the connection from the list: that
+        // would corrupt the iterator the server is using to shutdown all
+        // clients.
+        if (!mbStopping)
+        {
+            boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(mConnectionsMutex);
+            std::set<Connection*>::iterator it = mConnections.find(ptr);
+            if (it != mConnections.end())
+                mConnections.erase(it);
+        }
+        delete ptr;
+    }
+
+    void Server::postMessage (const char* s)
+    {
+        mpCommands->push_back(s);
+    }
+
+    void Server::threadMain()
+    {
+        // Loop until accept() fails, which will cause the break statement to be hit
+        while (true)
+        {
+            std::auto_ptr<Connection> spConnection(new Connection(mAcceptor.io_service(), this));
+            boost::system::error_code ec;
+            mAcceptor.accept(spConnection->socket(), ec);            
+            if (!ec)
+            {
+                boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(mConnectionsMutex);
+                mConnections.insert(spConnection.get());
+                spConnection->start();
+                spConnection.release();
+            }
+            else
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+
+}}
diff --git a/components/commandserver/server.hpp b/components/commandserver/server.hpp
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..8a2a74d1d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/commandserver/server.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#ifndef CONSOLESERVER_H
+#define CONSOLESERVER_H
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <string>
+#include <deque>
+#include <set>
+#include <boost/asio.hpp>
+#include <boost/thread.hpp>
+
+#include "components/misc/tsdeque.hpp"
+
+namespace OMW { namespace CommandServer 
+{
+    //
+    // Forward Declarations
+    //
+    namespace  Detail 
+    {
+        class Connection;
+    }
+
+    //
+    // Server that opens a port to listen for string commands which will be 
+    // put into the deque provided in the Server constructor.
+    //
+    class Server
+    { 
+    public:
+        typedef TsDeque<std::string> Deque;
+
+        Server (Deque* pDeque, const int port);
+
+        void start();
+        void stop();
+
+    protected:
+        friend class Detail::Connection;
+        typedef std::set<Detail::Connection*> ConnectionSet;
+
+        void removeConnection (Detail::Connection* ptr);
+        void postMessage      (const char* s);
+
+        void threadMain();            
+
+        // Objects used to set up the listening server
+        boost::asio::io_service         mIOService;
+        boost::asio::ip::tcp::acceptor  mAcceptor;
+        boost::thread*                  mpThread;
+        bool                            mbStopping;
+        
+        // Track active connections
+        ConnectionSet                   mConnections;
+        mutable boost::mutex            mConnectionsMutex;
+        
+        // Pointer to output queue in which to put received strings
+        Deque*                          mpCommands;
+    };
+
+}}
+
+#endif // CONSOLESERVER_H
diff --git a/components/misc/tsdeque.hpp b/components/misc/tsdeque.hpp
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..db14428bcb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/misc/tsdeque.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#ifndef TSDEQUE_H
+#define TSDEQUE_H
+
+#include <boost/thread.hpp>
+
+template <typename T>
+class TsDeque
+{
+public:
+    void push_back (const T& t)
+    {
+        boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(mMutex);
+        mDeque.push_back(t);
+    }
+
+    bool pop_front (T& t)
+    {
+        boost::mutex::scoped_lock lock(mMutex);
+        if (!mDeque.empty())
+        {
+            t = mDeque.front();
+            mDeque.pop_front();
+            return true;
+        }
+        else
+            return false;
+    }
+
+protected:
+    std::deque<T>        mDeque;
+    mutable boost::mutex mMutex;
+};
+
+#endif // TSDEQUE_H