Author: Peter Appleton

This years event was accompanied by two days of lovely autumnal weather, this meant there was a lot of people in Harwich exploring the areas rich history. At the Radar Tower, we welcomed 41 visitors on Saturday and an impressive 67 on Sunday. We spoke to people from far and wide including Northampton, The Netherlands and even Melbourne, Australia.

E Ryan & S Hunter: Interesting very informative

Amy: Fantastic and my children absolutely loved it…lots of questions asked

Jodie & James: Amazing! So Cool

It’s always educational speaking to visitors during our open days. Most are interested in history and some are surprised how successful Radar was in it’s early days. We also had a visitor who actually made parts for one of our exhibits, a new artefact we received last year, known as a ‘Huff Duff’. This was a high frequency (radio) direction finder, used to locate downed airman and enemy submarines. We still have open days left for 2024 so if you haven’t been along to see us, there’s still time before we close for the season at the end of October. Hope to see you there 🙂

The season has picked up a bit over the past few open days. Visitor numbers are down on last year but donations are almost the same, so thank you for your kind donations if you have come along to see us. We still have several dates before we close for the season, including Heritage Weekend when we will be opening Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September, 11am to 3pm.

S Webb: Excellent displays, really interesting facts

Sue and Eddie: It was an enjoyable visit thank you

CO11 2QN: A fascinating insight into the history of the tower and it’s purpose

We have added a few more artefacts during the year and have been donated some interesting items that could have been used in the tower during WWII. We have met some great visitors during the year with some interesting conversations and insights into history. If you haven’t visited yet, we are open on certain dates until the end of October (please see our Open Day page). Group visits can be arranged, please contact us for further information. Hope to see you there 🙂

Not quite the warm, sunny open day we were hoping for but we still had a few intrepid visitors come along to see us. We are still receiving positive feedback regarding the content and presentation of the tower and we are still adding information and artefacts to the collection. If you haven’t visited us recently, please come and see us again, we have a new display showing the Maunsell Forts and the Radar Site at Walton on the Naze.

Amazing gem – very educational

Amazing 12 out of 10 [sic]

2ppl & 3 dogs: Stunning, beautifully restored. Very atmospheric. So glad we came

We open again on Sunday 23rd June between 11am and 3pm. Fingers crossed for a lovely sunny day 🙂

Two more successful open days this month with reasonable weather and attendance. Sunday 12th saw 46 visitors coming to see us and a further 29 on the 26th. Although numbers are slightly down on 2023, the positive feedback received continues. One of the difficult tasks when setting up the displays was to interpret a complex subject and make it interesting to all ages, something I believe we have achieved.

Darlene (Canada): Such a lot of history packaged in a tiny space!

Alex: Unique experience!

Sampson: Very interesting, many thanks

Radford family: Kids loved this. They have walked past for years and wanted to see inside.

Sunday June 9th is our next open day, 11am until 3pm, admission is free but donations are always welcome. Please come along and visit us at this unique location, one of the earliest applications of Radio Direction Finding (aka Radar) in the country.

Unfortunately, we had our wettest and least attended open day to date. We stayed at our post and welcomed four hardy visitors. Two from Reading and 2 from the Netherlands, where many of our visitors arrive from. Being only a few miles from Parkeston Quay, where the ferry from the Hook of Holland docks, we are a favourite stop off point for people entering or leaving the UK. We still received positive feedback which is always good.

Jamie – Great!

Kees B – Interesting & stunning

Our next open day is Sunday 12th May between 11am and 3pm. Entry is free but donations are always welcome. If you haven’t visited the Radar tower since 2021, we have added many artefacts and have installed interpretation panels explaining the tower and how it worked. Hope to see you soon at this unique survivor from WWII 🙂

A big thank you to all those who came along today for our first open day of 2024. We had 22 visitors, which is slightly up on our first day last year, and some great feedback.

Kim + Sam – Very interesting. We’ll be back with more family.

Catey + Clive – Amazing place, excellent displays, we will be back. Well done.

Zoe & Phil – really interesting!

It always makes it worth while when receiving these sort of comments. We strive to present this historic building in a clear and concise manner with a good balance of technical and local information. We open again at 11:00 on Sunday 28th April. Hope to see you there 🙂

We have swept and cleaned the tower ready for our new season, beginning at 11:00 on Sunday 14th April. A couple of new exhibits for this year include models of the Maunsell Forts located off the coasts of Essex and Kent. His Majesties Fort Roughs Tower can be seen from the middle floor of the radar tower, more commonly known today as the Principality of Sealand. This was home to Joan and Roy Bates from 1967 and is still owned by their son Michael.

Our other new model shows the Chain Home Radar site located at Walton on the Naze, 5 miles south of Harwich. Only one building remains today, the rest having fallen off the cliffs since WWII due to coastal erosion.

We will be opening every other Sunday until the end of October this year. Group and private visits are possible (subject to availability). Please contact us via our contact page. If you haven’t visited before, we hope to meet you this year 🙂

Work is underway to reopen the Harwich Radar Tower in April 2024. Our first open day will be Sunday 14th April between 11am and 3pm. Entry is still free but all donations are welcome.

During the winter we have been adding to the items displayed in the tower. A model of the Radar site located at Walton on the Naze has been installed showing the layout of the site during WWII. Very little remains of the site but the original entrance can still be seen, along with parts of the concrete bases that once supported wooden huts.

If you have been to the tower before, we always welcome return visits. If you haven’t been yet, then please come along to this unique survivor from WWII. The only remaining ‘Minewatch’ Radar site in the UK open to the public, housing possibly the only surviving Type 287 aerial array in the world.

Sunday 29th October is our last open day this season. We are open between 11am and 3pm as always. Admission is free but donations are always welcome. We can open on Sundays throughout the year for group bookings but you must contact us first to arrange time and date to ensure availability of a volunteer to open up (usually me lol) A few new bits are planned for next year so if you haven’t been along to see us this year, we hope to see you in 2024 🙂

Following a successful open day season, we only have one more day left this year. October 29th will be our last day. We open between 11am and 3pm with free entry (donations welcome). We had a very successful weekend back in September with the Heritage Open Days event. 121 visitors over the two days and plenty of positive comments in the visitors book

Lever family: Very informative and a good insight to how things were during the wars.

A Belton: Very interesting & unique Radar display & artefacts.

S Tobin: (Canada) I really enjoyed the exhibits & information. It helps to have a better understanding of the wars. Thank you.

K Winter: WOW! Thanks 🙂

Peter D: Great, Very well done.

We always take the time to speak to our visitors as it is always interesting to learn where people have travelled from and to discuss the collection. We are always striving to improve the tower as a unique attraction, the only one of 11 that is open to the public. Have a few things planned during the winter and already looking forward to open day season 2024. Hope to see you soon 🙂