BEACH STREET 1. 1035 (West Side) Timeball Tower TR 3752 SE 4/180 II 2. Originally this building, situated at the entrance to the old Navy Yard, was one of 10 royal signal towers used to semaphore messages to the Admiralty from tile fleet at the Downs during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1855 the tower was adapted to form a Time-Ball Tower. At Greenwich in 1855 the 1st Time Ball was installed to enable ships on the Thames to check their chronometers. In 1855 a similar Time Ball of copper, mounted on a 14 ft mast was installed on top of the old semaphore station in Deal. At 12.55 pm every day the ball was raised halfway, at 12.58 pm it was raised to the top of the shaft and at 1 pm it was brought down by electric current direct from Greenwich and was thus able to give Greenwich Mean Time to ships on the Downs. This system was in operation until 1927 when it was replaced by wireless time signals. Early C19, 4 storeys stuccoed. Hipped slate roof. On top is a copper ball surmounted by a cross with the points of the compass on it and an arrow. 2 sashes with glazing bars intact but modern metal casements and doorcase to ground floor. Listing NGR: TR3780152476