The army anti-aircraft training camp: rows of army lorries, Nissen huts and camp buildings, with the salt marsh and sea beyond
The army anti-aircraft training camp, on this same ground, before 1958

Our history

An army anti-aircraft training camp until 1958, a family-run campsite ever since — the same stretch of marsh has spent longer as a place to pitch a tent than it ever did as a base.

A tent pitched at the site in 1979, with a dog and folding chairs

From army camp to campsite

From 1939 to 1958 this was an army anti-aircraft training camp — soldiers under canvas and in Nissen huts, with a cinema and dance hall, a chapel and a sergeants' mess of their own. When the Ministry of Defence sold the land in the early 1970s, a local farming family bought it, and it's been run by the same family ever since.

A wide view of the site in 1979, tents and cars pitched on the grass beside the marsh
The site, 1979
A faded photograph captioned 'a day on the marshes', showing a family relaxing by a tidal creek
"A day on the marshes"

Still standing

A few of the old buildings are still doing a job.

The chapel is now a boat-building workshop. The old sergeants' mess became home to the Rescue Wooden Boats Centre and Maritime Museum. The Guard House was renovated and now houses the site's stewards. The camp's original wash-houses served campers right up until 1994, when they were finally replaced with proper shower blocks.

A girl in a striped top carrying washing-up past the old corrugated-iron wash-house, and washing up at its outdoor sink
Washing up at the old army wash-house
A family sitting around a camping table in front of one of the old wooden army huts
Camping beside one of the old army huts