"Monday 21st June 2021
The Princess Royal, Royal Patron, National Coastwatch Institution, this afternoon (Monday) visited National Coastwatch Institution St Alban's Head Station, Worth Matravers, Swanage, and subsequently visited National Coastwatch Institution Swanage Station, Peveril Point Road, Swanage, before attending a Reception at Durlston Castle, Durlston Country Park, Lighthouse Road, Swanage, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset (Mr Angus Campbell)."
NCI Swanage (formally NCI Peveril Point) is one of the oldest NCI stations, opening on this site on 15 April 1995. The current lookout was built by the members in 2001 under the guidance of Ian Surface, the station's first manager, a local builder. NCI Swanage is a recipient of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
The original Coastguard station at St. Alban's Head was built in 1895. When HM Coastguard ceased to man visual lookouts in 1994, the building was returned to the landowner, the Encombe Estate. Since 1995, the Estate has leased the lookout to the National Coastwatch Institution. The NCI facility was opened in May 1995 and was manned by local volunteers as a sub-station of NCI Peveril Point, Swanage. It became independent in 1996. In 2012 the station was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Following extensive refurbishment in 2020, the Royal Patron visited to declare the renovated lookout formally open and unveil a commemorative plaque.
