Telegraph Cottage

PLYMOUTH

SX5355 DRUNKEN BRIDGE HILL 740-1/47/538 (West side (off)) 01/05/75 Plympton, Hardwick Telegraph Cottage

II

Telegraph house for signalling messages across the land to give warning of invasion from France, now a cottage. c1800 and extended slightly later. Built for the Admiralty as part of a chain of signalling stations designed by Lord George Murray who was inspired by a more complicated system designed by the Frenchman, Claude Chappe. Original part rendered, otherwise painted rubble; bitumen-grouted rag slate roof; rendered brick stacks: a central axial stack and an stack on the right of the present front. Small rectangular single-depth plan of 2 rooms plus an original lean-to on the left with a C20 conservatory in front. Single storey; 2-window front plus conservatory on the left in front of doorway. C20 windows. INTERIOR: not inspected. HISTORY: originally there was a 20 foot high stayed signalling panel above the ridge and this contained 6 pivoting shutters which could be adjusted by a system of ropes, cranks and counter-poises from inside the house and messages could be relayed up or down the country; 63 shutter combinations were possible and a pre-arranged message could be sent for hundreds of miles in a matter of minutes. There are some remains of this structure in the roof space. This is the only building of its type known to survive and it is therefore historically and technically of national importance. (Devon Life: November 1984: 50 & 51; Devon County Magazine: Autumn 1985: 14 & 15).

Listing NGR: SX5318555345