Time Ball Tower - Tourist Attractions In Deal

Time Ball Tower - Tourist Attractions In Deal

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Time Ball Tower - Tourist Attractions In Deal

This strange piece of architecture on the seafront at Deal is a relic of a bygone age. An age before watches and clocks were widespread or accurate. The Time Ball Tower at Deal was originally built in 1795 as a Semaphore Station at a time when Deal had a Naval dockyard. A chain of stations meant messages could be sent to London very quickly. After it ceased to be used as a semaphore station it was converted to a time ball tower and the distinctive ball added to the top of the tower

The large ball was raised to the top of its pole and dropped at exactly 1pm each day thereby giving shipping passing through the English Channel or anchored in the Downs an accurate time check.Although no longer needed as a means of checking time, the time ball still drops at 1pm each day keeping up the tradition. The tower now houses a museum of time and telegraphy.

Open

• 7 days a week from 9am - 5pm
  
• Closed on Christmas day

Contact:

• Landmark Centre
  High Street
  Deal CT14 6BB
• Telephone number: 01304 369576
• or visit website here.

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