Telegraph House

Telegraph House is a house dating from 1829. It was originally constructed as a semaphore signalling station on a line from Chatley Heath, part of the London to Portsmouth signalling system, extending west towards Plymouth. The main structure is a central, nearly square, three-storey block with a flat roof, flanked by two-storeyed north and south wings, which were originally single-storey. The west elevation has a 2-3-2 window arrangement over three storeys, with a 1-1-1 window layout. The building is constructed of roughcast, with a slate roof. It features a parapet with coping and a moulded cornice, with a first-floor band continuing as original cornices around the wings. The windows are plain sashes set in reveals, and there is a plinth. A single-storey extension is located at the centre of the east side, containing a plain arched doorway facing south. A single-storey 20th-century wing extends from the north-east corner, serving as a service wing and garage. The upper parts of the wings are covered with slate roofs. The building was originally known as the River Hill Station.