In 1795 the navy decided to construct an optical telegraph system using a chain of signalling stations to enable the Admiralty in Whitehall to communicate with the Portsmouth Naval base on the south coast. In 1821 the princely sum of £20 was paid for the land on which a new signalling station was built to upgrade the link to use semaphore instead. At the time it was commented that this node was "... the most remote and inaccessible site of any!". Fortunately this cache is not difficult to access despite it being near a VERY BIG HILL!!!
Messages could be sent over the 108km path in about 15 minutes. The information superhighway of its age was in operation until about 1847 when the electric telegraph superseded it. The only surviving station now open to the public is at Chatley Heath in Surrey.
A beacon on this hill was last lit on Monday 3rd June 2002 to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. In a replica of events from the last Golden Jubilee, that of Queen Victoria in 1887, a chain of beacons were lit across the UK from Lands End to John O'Groats and from Great Yarmouth to Holyhead, at the Arctic Circle and in Antarctica as well as in all 52 countries of the Commonwealth, as a climax to the day's festivities. The beacons formed a chain across the UK including the lighting by The Queen of the National Beacon in central London.
From the top of the hill the three counties of Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire are clearly visible.
Parking is available at N51°01.616' W000°45.686'(SU 86957 26022), signposted Older Hill
Please check out the Geocaching Association of Great Britain offering support for Geocachers in the UK