Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Summary Description
Reference Number
1427
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
30/11/1964
Date of Amendment
12/09/2001
Name of Property
Foelnant Telegraph Station (former)
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Denbighshire
Community
Prestatyn
Town
Locality
Prestatyn
Easting
308396
Northing
383011
Street Side
Location
In isolation, about 250 m to the south of Gronant Road and about 1 km west of Gronant village
Description
Broad Class
Communications
Period
History
Signalling by semaphore started on the North Wales coast in 1826, a number of stations including the predecessor of Foelnant being set up by the Mersey Docks Trust. The position of an 'old telegraph station' 300 m east-north-east of Pen-yr-allt is shown on the 1871 Ordnance Survey map.
The present Foelnant building carries a stone tablet in south gable with the inscription "Voelnant Telegraph Built in 1841 by the Trustees of the Liverpool Docks". It was built on land belonging to the Nant Hall estate. The semaphore system was used as late as 1860 as an emergency fallback when the electric telegraph failed. Though probably redundant by 1879 the station remained in the occupation of the dock trustees at a rent of £5 per annum.
In the early C20 Foelnant station was brought back into use for spotting ships in distress and summoning lifeboats, but was closed c1907. A stand for launching rockets was set up nearby.
Exterior
Rectangular single-storey, two-window brick former telegraph station. When surveyed in 1963 this was described as lime-washed; addition to north including two bow windows; slate roof with graduated courses and with stone copings up to half hips; recessed sash windows with glazing bars, somewhat altered on east side.
Not inspected during resurvey because of foot-and-mouth disease restrictions.
Interior
Central chimney stack has clustered octagonal flues; splayed fireplaces said to include one of stone with 3-centre arch to lintel.
Reason for designation
An important survival of a north-Wales semaphore telegraph station of 1841 put up by the Liverpool Docks Trustees.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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