A charming and intriguing former coastguard cottage of approx. 1230 sqft, extended on the ground floor which also creates a large balcony with fabulous harbour views to Hengistbury Head, from where glorious sunsets can be enjoyed. These cottages were built in 1860 to standard 'coastguard station' patterns, by the Admiralty when they took over running the coastguard effort from the Board of Excise. The coastguard station at Mudeford is similar in design to those at Barton on Sea and at Southbourne, each comprising a row of 10 cottages with 2ft thick walls, and signature row of chimneys. Other coastguard stations nearby at Lepe, Keyhaven, Swanage, Worth Matravers and Weymouth were built to slightly different designs at around the same time. The Mudeford coastguard station was built mainly to monitor and prevent smuggling, since the harbour was an ideal hideout for contraband smuggling, with the wilds of the New Forest close by. It is one of the few remaining coastguard stations in the country in which all original buildings still survive. It comprises a boathouse (now Strides boatyard), row of cottages, and the officer's house. The whole station is now a conservation area.