Borough Hill
Encyclopedia
Borough Hill is a hill to the east of the town of Daventry
in the English
county of Northamptonshire
. It is over 200 metre above sea level and dominates the surrounding area.
hillforts, and two Bronze Age
barrows and of a later Roman villa
and farming settlement.
The long wave service was moved to a new and better transmitter station located at Wychbold
village near Droitwich in 1934.
In the early years of the second world war, tests were carried out using one of the short wave transmitters to carry out
research work into radar
.
In 1950 the BBC constructed a 720 ft (219.5 m) mast at nearby Dodford
for the BBC Third Programme
, with a 150 kW transmitter located in a building near to the short wave transmitter building. This service closed in 1978 and the mast was removed in 1984.
Due to the nature of short wave broadcasting, large areas of Borough Hill were occupied with towers, and masts to support large
antennas. Transmissions from the short wave station could be received across the world.
Many engineers were employed by the BBC to work at the station and a number decided to settle in Daventry, and to this
day many former BBC staff remain in Daventry.
The BBC decided to close the station and on the 28 March 1992 the last transmission took place, and the transmission equipment was moved to other BBC World Service
transmitters around the country. The station became an electronic service centre for the repair of BBC transmission equipment, and a local transmitter maintenance team was also based here until the late 1990s. The station has found many uses including the training of engineers, storage of equipment, spare antennas and masts. The station is now owned by Arqiva
.
The former antenna field is now open grassland allowing free public access.
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. It is over 200 metre above sea level and dominates the surrounding area.
Archaeology
Remains have been found on the hill of two Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hillforts, and two Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
barrows and of a later Roman villa
Borough Hill Roman villa
Borough Hill Roman villa is located on the north tip of Borough Hill, a prominent hill near the town of Daventry in Northamptonshire. The villa’s remains lie within the ramparts of an Iron Age fortress which covers the summit of the hill...
and farming settlement.
Transmitting station
In 1925 the BBC constructed a transmitting station which initially was used for long wave, and short wave broadcasting.The long wave service was moved to a new and better transmitter station located at Wychbold
Wychbold
Wychbold is a village in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, England. It is by junction 5 of the M5, and is on the A38 north-east of Droitwich, near to where they cross the River Salwarpe. Just outside the village on the A38 is Webbs of Wychbold, one of the UK's largest garden centres....
village near Droitwich in 1934.
In the early years of the second world war, tests were carried out using one of the short wave transmitters to carry out
research work into radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
.
In 1950 the BBC constructed a 720 ft (219.5 m) mast at nearby Dodford
Dodford, Northamptonshire
Dodford is a village in the county of Northamptonshire, England, within the Weedon Ward of Daventry District. The village is just north of the A45 road 1½ miles west of Weedon. It is 3½ miles east of Daventry and ten miles west of Northampton. It is also close to junction 16 of the M1 motorway...
for the BBC Third Programme
BBC Third Programme
The BBC Third Programme was a national radio network broadcast by the BBC. The network first went on air on 29 September 1946 and became one of the leading cultural and intellectual forces in Britain, playing a crucial role in disseminating the arts...
, with a 150 kW transmitter located in a building near to the short wave transmitter building. This service closed in 1978 and the mast was removed in 1984.
Due to the nature of short wave broadcasting, large areas of Borough Hill were occupied with towers, and masts to support large
antennas. Transmissions from the short wave station could be received across the world.
Many engineers were employed by the BBC to work at the station and a number decided to settle in Daventry, and to this
day many former BBC staff remain in Daventry.
The BBC decided to close the station and on the 28 March 1992 the last transmission took place, and the transmission equipment was moved to other BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
transmitters around the country. The station became an electronic service centre for the repair of BBC transmission equipment, and a local transmitter maintenance team was also based here until the late 1990s. The station has found many uses including the training of engineers, storage of equipment, spare antennas and masts. The station is now owned by Arqiva
Arqiva
Arqiva is a telecommunications company which provides infrastructure and broadcast transmission facilities in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The present company, with headquarters located at Crawley Court in the village of Crawley, Hampshire, was formed by National Grid Wireless...
.
The former antenna field is now open grassland allowing free public access.