It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.
Monument details
Summary
Site of an 18th century telegraph station.
| Grid Reference: | TR 0417 5539 |
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| Map Sheet: | TR05NW |
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| Parish: | SELLING, SWALE, KENT |
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Monument Types
Full description
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A telegraph station, sometimes known as Old Wives' Lees, part of the Deal line of the Admiralty Shutter telegraph system c. 1796, was sited on the hill. A letter to the Gentleman's Magazine in 1796 described the situation of the telegraph station. He included sketches of the site showing the earthwork ditch around the land containing the windmill and the telegraph. (1-4)
The shutter telegraph system operated from 1796 until the end of the Napoleonic wars (c. 1816). It is not clear where the tower actually stood on the hill top.
<1> The Old Telegraphs 1976 10 20 Map (G Wilson) (OS Card Reference). SKE50454.
<2> Hist and Toporaphical Survey of the county of Kent 1778 (E Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE43780.
<3> Gentleman's Magazine I 1796 473-5 (Z Cosens) (OS Card Reference). SKE43578.
<4> Gentleman's Magazine Library I 1887 BB Rems 157-8 (Z Cosens) (OS Card Reference). SKE43579.
Sources and further reading
| Cross-ref.
| Source description | | <1> | OS Card Reference: The Old Telegraphs 1976 10 20 Map (G Wilson). |
| <2> | OS Card Reference: Hist and Toporaphical Survey of the county of Kent 1778 (E Hasted). |
| <3> | OS Card Reference: Gentleman's Magazine I 1796 473-5 (Z Cosens). |
| <4> | OS Card Reference: Gentleman's Magazine Library I 1887 BB Rems 157-8 (Z Cosens). |
