1903 - The Lloyds signalling was passed over to the coast guard. Which coincides with the building of the cottages at Prawle Point.

The present Prawle Point Cottages were built to house 1 officer, 1 Petty Officer and 8 men. - this suggests 24hr manning

The First World War The Coast Guard was part of the Naval Reserve so that at the time Of the War the men were withdrawn from the coast to go to sea. The torpedoing of the reserve cruisers 'Aboukir', 'Houge' and 'Crecy' which were filled with Coast Guards and cadets. This resulted in the depletion of the Coast Guard service (1400 were killed) so the Coastguards were returned to shore duties.

It was realised how important shore watchers were, and the Coastguard should not be a naval reserve for sea service but would be taken over in times of war for Naval coastal duties.

After the first World War there were three strands of work on the coast:

The new coastguard took over only one strand of the work the Coastwatching and rescue under the Board of Trade

1925 Modern Coastguard was formed (single word) under the Board of Trade and were not naval reserves HM Coastguard. They became a full time search & rescue service.

The 1928 Prawle rocket team

Prawle - by 1932 it was daywatches only, and some of the cottages were let. So presumably the government was trying to cut back on the coastguard. Big ships had radios so presmably Lloyds signalling was also reducing in importance.

Enjoying a summers evening in the 1930's

1937 - 1940 - As war loomed the coastguard all put on constant watch and now reinforced with Auxiliaries as reinforcements. So Prawle became the Royal Naval Shore Signal Station (RNSSS).

The front of the R.N.S.S.S. 37-40

We think the generator shed was built at some point in the 50's. We have now converted this to a Visitors Centre.