Offices and Buildings occupied and used by The Coastguard

The cottages c1900.

The cottages in 2000

The cottages, in use until about 1907 when new cottages were built on Highdown are now no longer habitable.

Les & Ann Barrett - August 2004

Coastguard Cottages at  East Preston - c1956

These cottages are very exposed, overlooking the sea on the southwest coast of the Island about 2 miles west of Blackgang Chine.

Les & Ann Barrett - May 2003

Coastguard Watch House - c1900

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

'My name is Laurence Howard from Claggan Island, Co Mayo. I am the owner of Belmullet coastguard Station. We have just completed the restoration of the building. As the commentary [above] states, we reconstructed the building on the original footprint and kept the original design and features as much as possible.

We did however have to change the outside staircase to the tower, as health and safety requires a landing midway down the staircase. We are very pleased with the way it has turned out and are working towards having the gardens and surrounding walls finished before the end of the year' - August 2010.

These cottages, although modernised, are easily recognised overlooking the sea high on Culver Down above Bembridge.

Les & Ann Barrett - June 2004

These cottages at Foreland Fields are in excellent condition, modernised and privately occupied, close to the Crab & Lobster pub and in sight of the sea.

Les & Ann Barrett - September 2004

This old Watch Tower over looks Bembridge Harbour and the shore line at St. Helens.

Hazel Mulcahy - August 2004

These cottages are in a dilapidated state and uninhabitable. They are now used as store rooms for the Blackgang Chine Theme Park, which itself is subject to cliff erosion each year. These cottages may not last much longer.

Les & Ann Barrett - May 2003

These cottages are on the Mullet peninsula in County Mayo, adjacent to the lighthouse from which, famously, the keeper, Ted Sweeney, submitted weather reports to the allies in WWII.

'The Allies, with boats ready in the Atlantic, had set previous dates for the invasion, but weather had hampered their plans. They needed up-to-date weather forecasts, Sweeney detected a clearance in the weather, this information was channelled to the Allies and the date was set for D-Day - 6th June 1944 - as a result of his forecast' - The Coastguard Cutter Vol 7 No. 9.

Left : Coastguard Life Saving Apparatus Station in West Street - early 1900s

You can see the arched doorway where the cart and equipment were stored and higher up on the distinctive gable end you can see the Admiralty anchor. The building seems to have been multiple occupancy as it has been suggested that it was also used by Trinity House as a local HQ.

Right : As it looks now - 2011

If it wasn't for the gable end and the anchor you would never guess.

These Coastguard Cottages are (were?) at Southwick - photo is pre 1918

These cottages high on the cliffs overlooking the sea are in good condition and are now let as holiday homes.

Les & Ann Barrett - March 2004

Coastguard Station and Cottages at Swilly Road circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

These 18th century cottages overlooking the port of Charlestown are in good condition and are now let as holiday homes.

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Station - c1900

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

These cottages were built in the mid 1800's and are now owned by the National Trust.

These cottages were built in 1881 overlooking the River Medina estuary and the Solent. They accommodated 14 men and their families. The Chief Officer's house stands alone to the far left of the picture whilst the Chief Boatman's house, with a boathouse attached, is outside the picture to the right. The slipway for launching the boats remains.

The cottages were bought by the local council in 1921. 

Les & Ann Barrett - July 2004

These cottages, opposite the lower eastern side of the Great Island in Cork Harbour, appeared to be the original coastguard cottages.

The Coastguard Cottages at Birlig Gap:

Left - c1909

Right - c1945.

The Coastguard Station at Felpham, Bognor in 1922.

This cottage, now split into two dwellings, was probably the Chief Officer's residence.

Les & Ann Barrett - August 2004

The Coastguard Station from a old postcard - appears to show cottages and workshops in the foreground.

The tower on the left, constructed of chalk, is believed to be England's oldest surviving lighthouse. Built in 1674 by Sir John Clayton and designed for a coal or wood fire to be burned on its top, it is not clear whether it was ever actually used. The tower was restored in 1996.

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Station & Cottages - Pett Level, Nr Hastings - Pre 1945

Coastguard Station & Lookout - Fairlight Cliff, Hastings

Left - Station - c1936

Right - Lookout - c1939

The Coastguard Station on the seafront - left circa 1890 & right circa 1904.

These Coastguard Cottages and boathouse/store rooms are situated at St Aldhelm's Head on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset

These Coastguard Cottages stand facing the sea at South Duntulmenjoy on the northern coast of Skye with views across The Minch to the Outer Isles. The cottages are now holiday homes.

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Cottages, and the Old Mill, circa 1900.

The cottages were originally built circa 1815 to act as accommodation for the coastguards during the period of the Napoleonic Wars and retain some of the original features. The cottages are now holiday homes.

These cottages were originally built in 1824. They now serve as holiday homes.

These seven Coastguard Cottages stand facing the sea above Mullion Cove.

These cottages are up on the windswept Needles Headland above the iconic Needles rock formation. Plain and functional, they are named after ships wrecked on the Needles - Irex and Pomone, and Varvassi, which was the last big ship to founder on this treacherous coast, back in 1947. The cottages are part of a 370-acre site of open downland owned by the National Trust.

These cottages are close to the mud flats and marsh in an area of outstanding beauty and close to the Old Town Hall of Newtown.

Les & Ann Barrett - March 2004

These cottages pictured circa 1902, are at the end of a lane and overlooking the sea not far from St. Catherine's Lighthouse.

The cottages are now self catering holiday cottages..

The cottages, Nr Clovelly, were built in the late 18th century, stand about a quarter of a mile back from the beach and are now self catering holiday cottages.

The station c1900.

Built in 1876, these cottages are located on an elevated site and overlook the Inishowen Peninsula across a broad expanse of Lough Swilly. The cottages are just off the main scenic road between Rathmullan and Portsalon are now self catering holiday cottages..

These cottages are located overlooking the sea at Prawle Point. They are now self catering holiday cottages.

A terrace of seven cottages built in 1826 in an attempt to suppress smuggling in the area, these cottages are located on a sheltered and slightly sloping site facing south and overlooking the sea. They are now self catering holiday cottages.

Coastguard Station and Cottages circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Station circa 1880-1923.

© National Library of Ireland

Coastguard Station & Cottages circa 1900.

Built as a coastguard station in 2 rows of two, with others added at a later date to house the Chief Officer commanding.  The cottages were originally close to the beach before the Esplanade was built.  The men were housed close by in Clay Lane and Nelson Lane. Owing to the sprawling nature of the town Ryde had its own mounted coastguard.

2008

The cottages are situated in Rye Harbour.

The cottages at Jury’s Gap were originally built in 1875, stand together with another block of Coastguard Cottages at right angles, on Romney Marsh 1 minute’s walk from the shore line. The property is entered via steps leading into a courtyard containing the original brick outhouses, consisting of two store rooms per cottage and the original communal wash-house situated to the centre.

These cottages are situated at Woody Bay on the clifftop. The outbuildings on the right contain a communal washhouse and storerooms. Modernised, they are still in use as private dwellings.

Les & Ann Barrett - August 2004

The original coastguard station, built in 1737 to house six men and a boat, was replaced in Victorian times by the building shown here in an old post card.

These Coastguard cottages are situated on a cliff above Old Saltburn, Huntcliff, and are now holiday homes.

These cottages are situated on the the Esplanade and close to Sandown High Street.

Les & Ann Barrett - June 2004

Sea Palling Coastguard Station, and Vicarage, on the Norfolk coast a few miles south of Happisburgh from an old postcard c1910.

Smuggling along this coast reached its peak in the mid 1770's and Revenue Cutters patrolled the coast seizing tea, Geneva and other spirits - it was reputed that Palling was the headquarters of a band of armed smugglers. To counter this a Coastguard service was established in 1822 and a station built at Palling, which contributed to a decline in smuggling.

These cottages are situated to the east of the Seven Sisters cliffs.

These cottages are situated facing the Solent, just across the road from the beach, and have views of the mainland. The road leads to the village of Seaview.

Les & Ann Barrett - July 2004

These Coastguard Cottages stand facing the sea at Shingle Street. Now, furnished and decorated in an artisan's style, the cottages are cosy and comfortable holiday homes.

This Coastguard Station was built between 1803 and 1826, shown here pre - 1914, was sited on the coast road on Hurst Bank, near the present Chester Avenue area. The station was demolished in the 1950s.

Built in the 18th century and situated looking over the marshes, the are now used as holiday homes.

Built in the 18th century, these cottages are situated on the cliff top at Daddyhole Plain, Torbay. They are now used as holiday homes.

These cottages are situated at Totland Bay on the clifftop. Modernised, they are still in use as private dwellings.

Les & Ann Barrett - September 2004

These cottages are in West Street and there are sea views to the rear. Modernised, they are in use as private dwellings.

Les & Ann Barrett - August 2004

This station and cottages are pictured from the rear (left) c1900 & from the front (right) c1905.

These cottages are directly overlooking Chesil Beach, and are now private dwellings.

These cottages, seen from the rear, are on the main road leading to the present day car ferry. The building with the black doors was probably the boathouse and store.Now modernised, they are in use as private dwellings.

Les & Ann Barrett - June 2004