On Boxing Day 2006, I saw for the first time, the old world war 2 searchlight tower located on the west beach entrance to Shoreham harbour, and immediately thought that in light of the closure of the adjacent Coast Guard Lookout Station, this would make an ideal lookout station for the NCI. It was in a very poor state of repair as can be seen from the first picture, but with a bit of imagination I  realised its potential for being developed into a lookout station to meet the NCI requirements.

The tower was used in the second world war as a searchlight tower covering some 400 square miles of sea in a southerly direction as a precaution against any possible sea born invasion. It was de commissioned after the war but  in the 1950’s it was briefly brought back to life and used in the making of the film “Battle of the V1”.

 

Since then it has lain derelict being used only to house the electrics for the harbour entrance lights. With the co-operation of the Shoreham Port Authority the NCI have secured a 15 year lease on the building, all necessary paperwork was completed in January 2008. Generous Donated funding from local sources has been provided to enable the NCI to make a start on the refurbishment and in July 2008 the structure was transformed to the condition as seen in the second picture. Further funding is still needed so as to enable the NCI to complete the internal fitting out of the tower, however with the initial local volunteers (who are undergoing training at the present) and equipment to hand at present it is hoped that watch keeping will commence in August of this year.

The National Coastwatch Institution is a fully self funding Charity Organisation. It operates 39 such lookout stations around the UK coastline. There are over 1600 trained volunteers who put in a total of 170,000 man hours last year at “no cost to the public” The aim of the organisation is to be the eyes and ears along the coast, keeping a visual watch, monitoring radio channels, using radar and providing a listening watch in poor visibility. All watch keepers provide a vital link with all the emergency services and provide an emergency contact point on land for both sea and shore users.

Volunteers and Donations are still urgently required not only to finally get this station up and running, but indeed to keep it running. For further information please contact me via the email address below.

Brian Baker – Hon Treasurer and Trustee National Coastwatch Institution.
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