The Radar station at Swingate was a key element in the chain of radar stations defending Britain in the Second World War. As the closest station to the Continent the site was especially vulnerable and shelled and bombed repeatedly. Originally consisting of four towers only one of the original Second World War towers remains today.

The tower is 111m high and had a steel platform half way up for maintenance and inspection. The platform was removed after the war.

From the National Heritage list:

TOWER 2 (TR 33456 42917) This is a c350ft self-supporting steel transmitter tower. It is of galvanised steel construction, bolted together. Originally there would have been six cantilevered steel inspection platforms with timber floors (to inspect the aerial arrays which were slung between the towers), but these have been removed. As a Group 3 tower, it was built by J L Eve Construction Co. Ltd following an Air Ministry design drawn up by Mr Norman Garnish. The tower is supported on four reinforced concrete feet which are approximately 3m2 by 2m tall. The external concrete facing is understood to be a repair of post-2000 date, encasing the 1930s form. All modern plant and machinery, fixtures, fittings, communications equipment (including radio equipment cabins and electricity meter cabinets), masts, antennae (including associated brackets, supports and feeders) and the compound fences and gates are not of special interest.