PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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ADMIRALTY SIGNAL STATION
A series of 32 semaphore signalling stations was installed by the Admiralty between London and Plymouth Dock in about 1810. Within Devon, these were at Haldon, Knighton, Marley, Lee and Saltram [1]. The last station in the chain was at Plymouth Dock and 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. [2] This was replaced by the electric telegraph in October 1852. [2] 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'. [3] 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. [4] On Saturday July 22nd 1933 the local press revealed that the Admiralty had given instructions for the time-ball signals at Devonport, Sheerness and Portland to be discontinued and the apparatus dismantled. Until a few years before a gun hand been fired from Mount Wise at 1pm daily at the same time as the time-ball was dropped. The actual date that this would be effective was to be announced. [5] A similar announcement appeared in the Royal United Services Institute Journal in November 1933. [6]
A pre Second World War picture of Mount
Wise, Sources (incomplete):
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