The station was originally built as a searchlight base during the Second World War. Manned by the local Home Guard it housed a powerful searchlight designed to spot the enemy approaching the harbour by sea. It was abandoned at the end of the war and the open frontage was bricked.

It remained unused until NCI acquired the use of the building and the bricked up frontage was again opened up, this time to receive nice new windows and a complete exterior/interior facelift… to become a National Coastwatch station.  

Adjacent to the new station is the historic Shoreham Fort (see local contacts on Shoreham main page). The Fort also plays host to the sadly derelict remains of the old Coastguard Station, which would have made an ideal lookout if it were not for the building’s condition making it an unviable proposition. 

Recent excavations conducted by volunteers of Shoreham Fort have uncovered the concrete base on which a Lewis Gun was mounted.