by Emma Grove
egrove@thekmgroup.co.uk

Anyone with a spare £500,000 might want to consider investing in a bomb-proof building with a unique address just off Sheppey’s coast.

Grain Tower, which is also known as Number 1 The Thames, is up for sale.

The historic gunnery placement is located on Grain Spit, a mud flat in the Thames Estuary, half-way between Sheppey and the Isle of Grain.

It is accessible by a causeway at low tide, but can only be reached by boat at high water.

The granite and brick structure was built in 1855 and during the Second World War was extended to house about 70 troops.

Simon Cooper, who owns the building, said: “At the time it was one of the most strategic points on the map because it guarded The Thames, The Medway and Sheerness Docks.”

Mr Cooper, who works in construction, fell in love with the building after he spotted it and set about finding out how he could purchase it, which he did eight years ago – he wouldn’t reveal for how much.

Now he has big plans for it, and is keen to involve the community in coming up with ideas for what it could be.

Mr Cooper, who lives in Bromley, has talked about the possibility of turning it into a sports facility offering activities such as rock-climbing, clay-pigeon shooting, or even a house-boat marina, which he said would bring lots of people into the area.

He wants to work with a potential buyer in turning the building into something of benefit to Kent.

He has already had a few inquiries about the tower, but Mr Cooper is very keen to make sure it goes to the right person who will treat the building with the respect it deserves.

The 37-year-old said: “It’s an interesting building and it’s got history and lots of space.

“I think it would benefit the locals and that’s my intention.

“At the moment it’s just a great big lump of rock in the middle of the Thames Estuary but it’s got huge potential.

“I would be interested to hear people’s ideas.”