Radar Tower

About

Harwich Radio Direction Finding (RDF) Tower was built in 1941, probably the last WWII building to be constructed at Beacon Hill Fort. It housed a Type 287 Radar Array, one of only 11 in the country, and was used to detect enemy vessels entering the area. A minefield was laid across the estuary between Beacon Hill and Landguard to help prevent vessels entering the docks. The tower would detect range and bearing of any vessels and send the details to two concrete bunkers, one each side of the minefield. These bunkers are known as Extended Defence Officers (EXDO) posts and both still survive. The Essex one is at the landward end of the Stone Pier. The Suffolk one is outside Landguard Fort. In December 1943 the tower was closed and eventually became derelict. The Harwich Society reopened it in 1995 and it has been open to the public ever since. In June 2021 the tower was refurbished with new exhibits and interpretation panels and has proved a popular attraction in Harwich.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 30 minutes