Chatley Heath
Chatley Heath is a heathland in the midst of Surrey, and part of a 830-acre reserve which includes Wisley Common, Ockham Common and parts of Hatchford. It is an area with a mixed habitats including heathland, ancient woodland and conifer woodland.[1]
On the top of Chatley heath (formerly known as Breach Hill) is a tower built as part of the Royal Navy Semaphore line. The octagonal tower was built as part of the Admiralty semaphore chain which operated between 1822 and 1847. It is the best preserved remaining tower and has a working semaphore mast. It is 60 feet high with five storeys topped by a parapet built of red brick. It was occupied until 1963, when it was condemned as unfit because of lack of services. It then suffered vandalism and was damaged by fire in 1984 and was restored by the Surrey Historic Buildings Trust.[2] The tower is open to the public on Sundays in summer, and contains hands-on working semaphore models and displays on the history of overland naval communications in the early 19th century.[3]
Outside links
- Location map: 51°18’55"N, 0°26’18"W