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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.

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Archaeological History

Activity	Person & Organisation	Dates
field survey	Currie, C K CKCA	1997-01-01
Description Historic 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. Location Surrey, Elmbridge, Cobham, Grid Reference TQ 089 585 Associated Sources Title Author Type More info CKC Archaeology Currie, C K document more... Reference An evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 1: text report and appendices Reference 30/11/97 Reference Volume 1: text report and appendices Reference Volume 1 of 2 Holding Location Surrey HER 1 part
field survey	Currie, C K CKCA	1997-01-01
Description Historic 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. Location Surrey, Elmbridge, Cobham, Grid Reference TQ 089 585 Associated Sources Title Author Type More info CKC Archaeology Currie, C K document more... Reference An evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 2: maps Reference 30/11/97 Reference Volume 2: maps Reference Volume 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	3	Surrey 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	1	Surrey 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	1	Surrey 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

Details	Volume	Holding Information	Publisher Information	Pages
field survey	Currie, C K CKCA	1997-01-01
Description Historic 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. Location Surrey, Elmbridge, Cobham, Grid Reference TQ 089 585 Associated Sources Title Author Type More info CKC Archaeology Currie, C K document more... Reference An evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 1: text report and appendices Reference 30/11/97 Reference Volume 1: text report and appendices Reference Volume 1 of 2 Holding Location Surrey HER 1 part
field survey	Currie, C K CKCA	1997-01-01
Description Historic 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. Location Surrey, Elmbridge, Cobham, Grid Reference TQ 089 585 Associated Sources Title Author Type More info CKC Archaeology Currie, C K document more... Reference An evaluation of the archaeological and historic landscape of Wisley and Ockham Commons Volume 2: maps Reference 30/11/97 Reference Volume 2: maps Reference Volume 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	3	Surrey 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	1	Surrey 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	1	Surrey 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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