Trinity House Pilot Station was a Port Tower in Folkestone Harbour. It was designed by architect John Hill with structural engineers Andrews, Kent & Stone limited. The building existed from 1971 until its demolition in 2014.
History
The port tower was opened on 30th March 1971 as a port authority with a cost of £250,000 to build, overlooking shipping routes off Margate/North East Spit. It was regarded as a state-of-the-art operations center and rigged with the-then latest equipment such as Telex machines, radar and MF/VHF radio. Inside the building was quarters, mess rooms, and a lounge for pilots on night/morning shift work on standby with fast hot air convector ovens that could cook frozen rations within minutes.
Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher visited the Trinity House port tower facility in 1977. She described the whirlwind visit as a way to pay tribute to the lighthousemen, lifeboatmen and pilots who make the sea safer for us.
Due to technological advances in fast launches, radar and communications, the Trinity House pilot station closed in September 1988. The building was later declared structurally unsound and beyond repair. Demolition took place in 2014.
References
- "End of an era as harbour landmark demolished". Kent Online. August 27, 2014.
- "Looking back at Folkestone". Jon Spencer.
- "Folkestone HarbourPage2". www.warrenpress.net.
- THE PILOT, The official organ of The United Kingdom's Pilot Association, No. 159 (Vol.47. No.1) October 1971, FOLKESTONE PILOT STATION OPENED
- Dawson, Paul (September 2, 2014). "All change at Folkestone Harbour".
External links
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