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Historic Environment Record

HER 502 - Chatley Semaphore Tower

Scheduled Monument
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
Scheduled Monument Number137
ConditionPoor
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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 name)Cobham
DistrictElmbridge, Surrey
Map SquareTQ05NE
GeologyPlateau Gravels
GeologyPlateau Gravels
Type and Period
Evidence TypeMonument TypeDate Range:
STRUCTURE
SIGNAL STATION
Post Medieval
19th Century

Related Records

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 SMR 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 SMR 1 part

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The inclusion of a site in the database in no way implies that public access is available. The vast majority of sites (including Scheduled Monuments) and buildings are on private land and have no public access. Further Information.

About this record

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

The HER is the most up-to-date and comprehensive record of known archaeology within Surrey, and a great starting point for research into any aspect of the historic environment of Surrey.

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Tags or Keywords

Tagging is a way to add keywords to connect related records.

Tag suggestions:
Organization
  • Surrey County Council
Facility
  • Semaphore Tower
  • Listed Building
  • Chatley Semaphore Tower
Natural Feature
  • Red Hill
  • Nile
  • Telegraph Hill
Company
  • Cobham
Place
  • Surrey
  • Portsmouth
  • London
Province or State
  • Elmbridge
Country
  • United Kingdom
  • Wales
Industry Term
  • Present status/site
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