Shade House or ‘The Shades’ on the High Halstow Marshes has been described as an ‘enigmatic’ building. It is believed to date to sometime during the nineteenth century, constructed as a cottage for sheep lookers and is the only surviving example of such a building on these marshes. It is in a ruinous state and is believed to have been lying disused since the 1970s. The property became used as a pub of some kind and has also been associated with smuggling, given its isolated position, although it also has been argued that the Coastguard may have also used it to counter these activities. Whilst in a ruinous state which is difficult to make sense of, it is a unique survival that represents the area’s historic character.
Sources: Historic England