PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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A series of 32 semaphore signalling stations was installed by the Admiralty between London and Plymouth Dock in about 1810. The last station was added to a Redoubt that had been constructed on the site of Mount Wise house in 1778-79. It was used to pass Admiralty signals on to ships moored in the Sound and the Hamoaze. This was replaced by the electric telegraph in October 1852. However, the old signalling method seems to have continued for in the Naval & Military Record dated June 7th 1888 it was recorded that: 'The Breakwater Fort and the signal station at Mount Wise are to be fitted with 3 arm semaphores at a cost of £84 and £143 respectively'. The new signal station stood thirty feet above the original level and was visible fully a mile beyond the Breakwater. It had semaphore flash lights and that modern invention, the telephone. It was brought into use on Friday November 2nd 1888. In November 1933 the Royal United Services Institute Journal reported that: 'Instructions have been given for time-ball signals at Sheerness, Portsmouth and Plymouth to be discontinued and the apparatus dismantled.'
A pre Second World War picture of Mount
Wise,
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