Deal Timeball Tower

It contains a museum which features exhibits about the history of the tower, its use for navigation, signalling and precision electrical timekeeping, and the mechanics of the operating timeball.

The current tower stands on the site of an earlier shutter telegraph, one of a chain of 10 stations between the Admiralty telegraph in Southwark and the Naval Yard at Deal. The telegraph line, which opened in 1796, allowed rapid communication between the naval anchorage in the Downs and the Admiralty in London. From 1821 to 1831, the Tower carried a semaphore mast, which was used by the navy's coast blockade against smugglers.

The timeball signal was established in 1855. The timeball, which fell at 13:00 precisely, was triggered by an electric signal sent from the Observatory at Greenwich so that ships could check their chronometers. It was administered by the Royal Observatory from 1864 until 1927 when it became obsolete and its operation ceased.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 14 September:

11:30 - 16:30

Location & directions

Timeball Tower, Victoria Parade, Deal, Kent, CT14 7BP

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

The museum is on four floors with no ramp or lift access.

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