Site of Napoleonic semaphore signal station and later coastguard station, Tillingham Marsh (EHER 47734)

Now destroyed. A coastal signal station, forming part of a line of signal stations established by the Admiralty in 1794 and extended in 1795. At the end of the Napoleonic War, the station was closed and taken over by the coastguard. The land is now used for farming.

A line of coastal signal stations was established by the Admiralty in 1794, comprising 28 stations from North Foreland (near Margate in NE Kent) to Lands End, Cornwall. In 1795 the line was extended to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and subsequently on, to cover most of the country's coastline. The signalling equipment comprised of a 50ft mast with a 30ft top mast and a 30ft crossyard from which could be displayed from 10 hoists 145 different combinations of a red flag, a blue pendant and four black balls. At the end of the Napoleonic war, the signal stations were closed and it is suggested that the coastguard took them over. The station at Tillingham Marsh can be seen on the 1st ed OS map as 'Tillingham Coastguard Station'. This building is still extant on the 3rd ed OS maps. <1> <2> <3> The land is now farm land, although it is possible that some remains of the flagstaff may be on the seaward side of the seawall.