Coastguard's Lookout Tower

Coastguard’s Lookout Tower, now known as Telegraph Tower, is a Grade II listed structure built around 1814-16 on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly as a Signal station for the Admiralty.

Coastguard’s Lookout Tower
Coastguard’s Lookout Tower in 2017
Location in the Isles of Scilly
Alternative namesTelegraph Tower
General information
Coordinates49°55′42.74″N 6°18′13.82″W
Groundbreaking1813
Opened1814-16
ClientAdmiralty
Design and construction
ArchitectMessrs. Hambledon
DesignationsGrade II listed[1]

In May 1812 the military governor of the Isles of Scilly, Lieutenant General Vigoureux, requested a new signal tower station on Newford Down, St Mary’s to allow signals to be passed from the mainland in Cornwall to the batteries below Star Castle. The Admiralty agreed and adverts for its construction were placed in October 1813.[2]

After a series of delays, the tower was erected by Messrs. Hambledon.[3] The date of construction is quoted as 1814, but it was reported in the Hampshire Chronicle on 8 January 1816 that had been erected on Newford Down, Scilly, and Lieutenant John Trinder RN was appointed to superintend it.[4]

However, the tower appears to have been unsuccessful and in December 1816, it was closed down by the Admiralty and the building reverted to the custody of the land owner, George Osborne, 6th Duke of Leeds.

In 1831 the site was taken over by HM Coastguard as a subsidiary to the main station situated on the Garrison.

In 1903 a wireless mast and receiving office were built nearby,[5] The Newford Down semaphore station became known as Telegraph Tower, and the area around it is now known as Telegraph. The Lloyd’s Mercantile Marine Signal Station in the garrison was closed and the work of signalling passing ships was carried out by the coastguards at Telegraph Tower.[6]

In 1908 a telegraph house was erected on the tower's roof by the contractor, Arthur Carkeep.

References
  1. Historic England, "Coastguard's Look Out Tower (1141182)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 October 2017
  2. "Persons willing to Contract for Performance of the several Works necessary for the erection of a Signal Tower". Royal Cornwall Gazette. England. 30 October 1813. Retrieved 7 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. Goodwin, J (1993). "Granite towers on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly". Cornish Archaeology. 32: 134–136.
  4. "A signal station..." Hampshire Chronicle. England. 8 January 1816. Retrieved 7 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Coastguards and Wireless Telegraphy". Londonderry Sentinel. Ireland. 26 March 1903. Retrieved 7 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Isles of Scilly. Removal of Lloyd's Signal Station". Cornishman. England. 27 August 1903. Retrieved 7 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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