Chatley Heath is part of a 336 hectares (1.3 sq mi) reserve including Wisley Common, Ockham and parts of Hatchford. It is an area consisting of 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 (18 m) 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. Surrey County Council and the Surrey Historic Buildings Trust restored the tower to mark the centenary of the County Council.[2] However the condition of tower has more recently deteriorated, and it is again undergoing restoration, this time by the Landmark Trust who are converting it into self-catering holiday accommodation.[3][4] There will be public access on certain days when the restoration is complete.[5]
Its mid-long-distance access is the first exit immediately southwest of the Wisley Interchange of the A3, after meeting the M25 there. A roundabout at the interchange enables access from the Guildford direction. Local alternative access can also be obtained via East Clandon, East Horsley or Pointers Road in Cobham.
- ^ Wildlife Extra - Wisley Common, Ockham & Chatley Heath
- ^ A Guide To The Industrial Archaeology Of The Borough Of Elmbridge
- ^ "Our plans for Semaphore Tower". Landmark Trust. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ Tom Robins (8 April 2021). "The Tower Where Time Stood Still". Financial Times. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Curley, Rebecca. "Chatley Tower restoration to make landmark rentable". Sutton & Croydon Guardian. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 21 March 2020.