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Historic Environment Record

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HER 502 - Chatley Semaphore Tower

A 70ft high semaphore tower at Chatley Heath, Cobham, which formed part of the 1822 Portsmouth Line of the Admiralty Telegraph. It is suggested that news of the victory of the Nile must have come through Hatchford, on the assumption that the modern telegraph was not in use then. Perhaps the tower was in use long after the introduction of telegraphy.

Monument Information
Record TypeMonument
Protection Status
  • Listed Building Grade 2
  • SSSI
  • Common Land
  • Green Belt
ConditionPoor
Loading map...

Data represented on the interactive map is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features. Further information

Location
Grid ReferenceTQ 089 585
ParishCobham
Parish (old)Cobham
DistrictElmbridge, Surrey
Map SquareTQ05NE
GeologyPlateau Gravels
GeologyPlateau Gravels
Type and Period
Evidence TypeMonument TypeDate Range:
STRUCTURE
SIGNAL STATION
Post Medieval
19th Century
Archaeological History
ActivityPerson & OrganisationDates 
field survey Currie, C K
CKCA
1997-01-01Click here for more information
DescriptionHistoric landscape survey by C Currie, for SCC’s Planning Dept, as part of the process for considering designation as an Area of Historic Landscape Value. The most frequent earthwork features on the commons are the large number of substantial parallel ridges, some up to 3m high and extending for over 100m. Most of the identified groupings surround former quarries, lending support to the theory that these features are related to mineral extraction. The remains of conventional quarrying are also highly visible, both as quarry pits and spoil mounds. In fact, the survey suggests that the Red Hill hengi-form monument may be formed from fairly recent quarry upcast. The adjacent quarry, which has formerly been suggested to be Roman in date, appears to respect the Cobham/Wisley parish boundary, suggesting it post-dates that boundary.
LocationSurrey, Elmbridge, Cobham,
Grid ReferenceTQ 089 585
Associated Sources
TitleAuthorTypeMore info
CKC Archaeology Currie, C K documentmore...
ReferenceAn evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 1: text report and appendices
Reference30/11/97
ReferenceVolume 1: text report and appendices
ReferenceVolume 1 of 2
Holding Location Surrey HER 1 part
field survey Currie, C K
CKCA
1997-01-01Click here for more information
DescriptionHistoric landscape survey by C Currie, for SCC’s Planning Dept, as part of the process for considering designation as an Area of Historic Landscape Value. The most frequent earthwork features on the commons are the large number of substantial parallel ridges, some up to 3m high and extending for over 100m. Most of the identified groupings surround former quarries, lending support to the theory that these features are related to mineral extraction. The remains of conventional quarrying are also highly visible, both as quarry pits and spoil mounds. In fact, the survey suggests that the Red Hill hengi-form monument may be formed from fairly recent quarry upcast. The adjacent quarry, which has formerly been suggested to be Roman in date, appears to respect the Cobham/Wisley parish boundary, suggesting it post-dates that boundary.
LocationSurrey, Elmbridge, Cobham,
Grid ReferenceTQ 089 585
Associated Sources
TitleAuthorTypeMore info
CKC Archaeology Currie, C K documentmore...
ReferenceAn evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 2: maps
Reference30/11/97
ReferenceVolume 2: maps
ReferenceVolume 2 of 2 " copies of volume 2 held by SMR
Holding Location Surrey HER 1 part
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Society Bulletin
Ref: 01/03/65
3Surrey HER1 part
Ref: An evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 1: text report and appendices
Ref: 30/11/97
Ref: Volume 1: text report and appendices
Ref: Volume 1 of 2
1Surrey HER1 part
Ref: An evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 1: text report and appendices
Ref: 30/11/97
Ref: Volume 1: text report and appendices
Ref: Volume 1 of 2
1Surrey HER1 part
Ref: Chatley Heath Semaphore Tower Site Appraisal
HER1 part
Ref: The Story of Chatley Heath Tower
Ref: 01/01/89
Ref: by John and Beryl Skelly
HER1 part
Ref: Chatley Heath Semaphore Tower Trail
HER1 part
Ref: Letter from K.Bruce to Mr Skelly
Ref: 30/09/98
HER1 part
Ref: Letter from J.Skelly to Brenda Lewis
Ref: 13/09/90
HER1 part
Ref: Letter from Brenda Lewis to Mr.Skelly
Ref: 28/08/90
HER1 part
Source
DetailsVolumeHolding InformationPublisher InformationPages
field survey Currie, C K
CKCA
1997-01-01Click here for more information
DescriptionHistoric landscape survey by C Currie, for SCC’s Planning Dept, as part of the process for considering designation as an Area of Historic Landscape Value. The most frequent earthwork features on the commons are the large number of substantial parallel ridges, some up to 3m high and extending for over 100m. Most of the identified groupings surround former quarries, lending support to the theory that these features are related to mineral extraction. The remains of conventional quarrying are also highly visible, both as quarry pits and spoil mounds. In fact, the survey suggests that the Red Hill hengi-form monument may be formed from fairly recent quarry upcast. The adjacent quarry, which has formerly been suggested to be Roman in date, appears to respect the Cobham/Wisley parish boundary, suggesting it post-dates that boundary.
LocationSurrey, Elmbridge, Cobham,
Grid ReferenceTQ 089 585
Associated Sources
TitleAuthorTypeMore info
CKC Archaeology Currie, C K documentmore...
ReferenceAn evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 1: text report and appendices
Reference30/11/97
ReferenceVolume 1: text report and appendices
ReferenceVolume 1 of 2
Holding Location Surrey HER 1 part
field survey Currie, C K
CKCA
1997-01-01Click here for more information
DescriptionHistoric landscape survey by C Currie, for SCC’s Planning Dept, as part of the process for considering designation as an Area of Historic Landscape Value. The most frequent earthwork features on the commons are the large number of substantial parallel ridges, some up to 3m high and extending for over 100m. Most of the identified groupings surround former quarries, lending support to the theory that these features are related to mineral extraction. The remains of conventional quarrying are also highly visible, both as quarry pits and spoil mounds. In fact, the survey suggests that the Red Hill hengi-form monument may be formed from fairly recent quarry upcast. The adjacent quarry, which has formerly been suggested to be Roman in date, appears to respect the Cobham/Wisley parish boundary, suggesting it post-dates that boundary.
LocationSurrey, Elmbridge, Cobham,
Grid ReferenceTQ 089 585
Associated Sources
TitleAuthorTypeMore info
CKC Archaeology Currie, C K documentmore...
ReferenceAn evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 2: maps
Reference30/11/97
ReferenceVolume 2: maps
ReferenceVolume 2 of 2 " copies of volume 2 held by SMR
Holding Location Surrey HER 1 part
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Society Bulletin
Ref: 01/03/65
3Surrey HER1 part
Ref: An evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 1: text report and appendices
Ref: 30/11/97
Ref: Volume 1: text report and appendices
Ref: Volume 1 of 2
1Surrey HER1 part
Ref: An evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 1: text report and appendices
Ref: 30/11/97
Ref: Volume 1: text report and appendices
Ref: Volume 1 of 2
1Surrey HER1 part
Ref: Chatley Heath Semaphore Tower Site Appraisal
HER1 part
Ref: The Story of Chatley Heath Tower
Ref: 01/01/89
Ref: by John and Beryl Skelly
HER1 part
Ref: Chatley Heath Semaphore Tower Trail
HER1 part
Ref: Letter from K.Bruce to Mr Skelly
Ref: 30/09/98
HER1 part
Ref: Letter from J.Skelly to Brenda Lewis
Ref: 13/09/90
HER1 part
Ref: Letter from Brenda Lewis to Mr.Skelly
Ref: 28/08/90
HER1 part

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This is the record of an archaeological site, find, a historic building or a park and garden from Surrey’s Historic Environment Record (HER).

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