Cliffe Creek Coastguard Station, shown as a boat on the 1st Ed OS 6 inch, with the title 'The Swallow' and an adjoining hard indicated on the 1st ed OS map (1).This area lies by the seawall and on the foreshore mud, The sea defence is modern and concrete, it is possible the coastguard station was demolished and any remains now lie under the sea wall (2)

This feature is recorded in the English Heritage Historic Area Assessment for Cliffe Parish. The report states:
"'Free trade' as those involved termed it, was still endemic in the 19th century and early on a watch vessel named Swallow, occupying a site near the mouth of Cliffe Creek, was used as a coastguard station. It was replaced in the Edwardian era by terrace of Coastguard cottages which survived until c 1996." Note the Coastguard cottages are recorded separately on the HER. (3)

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1862-1875, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1862-1875 (Map). SWX11831.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year Two Report (Unpublished document). SWX12323.

<3> Historic england, 2014, Hoo Peninsula Outline Historic Area Assessment: Cliffe and Cliffe Woods Parish. Research Report 2014-54 (Bibliographic reference). SKE31591.