The open area seen in this photograph and the foreground of the wooded
area was when I was a boy in the 1950's a restricted area owned by the
MOD. Just up the road was the main SRDE 'Government' site. Most of the
work at SRDE was aimed at making satellite earth stations cheaper and more
reliable. A test facility comprising a 40 ft earth terminal, a test laboratory
and various antennas was located on the cliff top. Technology developed
here was the forerunner to the satellite TV and GPS, global positioning
satellite equipment, used throughout the world today.
As boy's we had all manner of explanations for the large white domes on
the cliff top that we could not get into no matter now we tried. These
white domes housed radar equipment and were the first of their kind in
the world.
The beach at this point was the subject many years ago to the grounding
of a ship in high seas, the story goes along the lines of the ship remaining
on the beach and local residents making it their home. On the cliff top
near the brick building a visitor will find the information board on Steamer
Point.
The woodland behind is the 32 acre cliff top woodland nature reserve known
as Steamer Point woodland reserve. Here Christchurch Council specialise
in wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. At the entrance is an
information centre which is open throughout the year. The walker travelling
through the reserve gains spectacular views over Christchurch Bay with
several very pleasant places to have your picnic.
Alternatively Highcliffe Castle is only a short stroll along the beach or through the woodland where very good lunches, cakes and cream teas can be obtained. Turn back towards Avon beach to lunch at Georges, now the Beach Hut, on Friars Cliff beach, about midway along the multicoloured beach huts or the good old faithful Avon Beach Cafe.
