Last semaphore tower in Britain opens for weekend

The last surviving semaphore tower in Britain is opening to the public this weekend.

Built in 1822, the Chatley Heath tower helped transmit messages from Admiralty House in London to Portsmouth Docks in just a few minutes.

The Grade II* listed structure, near Woking in Surrey, is usually occupied by holiday guests, but owners the Landmark Trust will be opening it for free visits on Saturday and Sunday.

Natalie Craven, engagement officer at the Landmark Trust, said: "It's a chance for visitors to discover history on their doorstep, told by Landmark staff who look after it day to day."

The brick tower, built after the Battle of Waterloo, played a key role relaying messages during the Napoleonic era.

After it was decommissioned, retired naval officers and local civilians lived in it until 1963, when it was left empty.

As a result, it suffered vandalism and then a major fire in 1984; by 2018 the tower was decaying rapidly.

The Landmark Trust, Surrey County Council and Surrey Historic Buildings Trust began restoration work in 2020 and opened the building in spring 2021.

Now the tower is open to the public on two weekends a year - in June and September.

This autumn's event for Heritage Open Days is set to take place on 12 and 13 September.

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