Monument record 8141/1 - BBC Radio Transmitting Centre, Borough Hill

A radio transmitter station operational from 1925 to 1992.

{1} Transmitting station opened at Daventry on 27th July 1925, transmitted 5XX long wave frequency. The first of the BBC stations to broadcast a national programme and to cover a sizeable proportion of the UK population. Captain P.P. Eckersly, BBCs first Chief Engineer in article stated 'The choice of site was influenced by the authorities who had laid down that the Station was to be situated north of a line drawn between the Severn and the Wash, and the Government stipulated that it must be placed so that as much as possible of the area served by the Station would be land and not sea. Up to a point this was a simple geographical problem and there was little doubt that the Station would be best placed somewhere in the neighbourhood of Daventry as a 100 mile circle round this town included a small area of sea only.'

On 19th December 1932 the Empire Service - the forerunner of todays World Service started broadcasting from Daventry. In 1934 the long wave service moved from Daventry to Droitwich in order to improve coverage of the north west and south west of England and West Wales.

Daventry was also the home of a number of non-broadcasting applications including early radar testing in the 1930's. The Daventry site closed on March 29th 1992 and all aerials etc have subsequently been taken down. Although a single mast has remained for communications purposes and Daventry will continue to be the base for the maintenace of BBC Domestic Services Radio and Television Transmitting stations within a 50/60 mile radius of the site.BBC Daventry 1925-1992.

{2} BBC's first overseas broadcasting station. Source of broadcast messages to agents in Occupied Europe during WWII, as well as the master pulsing station for Britains radar grid. Subsequently transmitter for BBC World Service. End of Cold War followed by demolition of extensive area of masts and aerials. Much reduced BBC presence by 1996.Original BBC building still present close to the main BBC compound. Of other structures only concrete bases survive along with 3 brick and concrete derelict structures located at the north end of the hill.
5XX, the original BBC building still present close to the main BBC compound. Elseweher on Borough Hill area a small number of derelict wartime brick and concrete structures located adjacent a track known as the 'RAF road'. Several such structures were demolished in the early 1990's at the time the BBC were preparing to sell this part of their holding. By 1996 only concrete bases survive along with 3 brick and concrete derelict structures located at the north end of the hill cSP59086305.

{3} Details of crash on the night 15.12.1944 of two Flying Fortress aircraft into the radio masts at Borough Hill. The first landed at base safely with 80 feet of wire wrapped around a wing; the second was less fortunate- after hitting mast O it crashed nearly a mile away with the loss of all its crew. "The mast struck was one of three at Daventry built for Air Ministry purposes, and carried the aerials for the master station of the eastern Gee chain This important navigational aid was put out of action for fifteen minutes before a stand-by system could be brought into operation".

{4} px: small guard hut (BBC Company, Daventry Home Guard being placed under the 2 tallest masts)
px: 1843 a small monitoring station set up in field c 7 miles from Daventry to receive messages from points around Britain in the event of invasion
P28: Daventry RADAR station continued to provide navigational aid to military and commercial aircraft until the mid 1950's.

{5} Leaving aside the main BBC compound, there are a small number of standing brick and concrete structures on the hilltop along with the foundation slabs of former buildings and the concrete bases of former radio station aerials and their supports. All played a role in the operation of the 20th century radio station. The former buildings and foundations are the surviving visible element of WW2 activity at Borough Hill and include the site of structures associated with the development and operation of what were then leading technological developments such as radar and the wartime bomber aircraft GEE navigation system. The radio mast and support bases originate from across the lifespan of the radio station including through WW2 and the Cold War. None of these remains should be removed or dismantled without first ensuring that there is a proper understanding and record of their nature, function and historic importance.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<2> 1996, Untitled Source, (unchecked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN45801.

<3> Gibson M.L., 1982, Aviation In Northamptonshire: An Illustrated History, p.81-82 (unchecked) (Book). SNN100276.

<4> Tomalin N., 1988, Daventry Calling the World, px? & P. 28 (unchecked) (Book). SNN101782.

<5> Cadman, G., 2007, Daventry, Borough Hill - Note on Condition, (checked) (Note). SNN107029.

<6> 1938, By Sea and Air: The Growth of Imperial Communications, p.465-68 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN106128.

<7> Le Marie, N., 2011, Chronicle Insight: This Is Daventry Calling, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107657.

<8> Cadman, G., 2011, Borough Hill, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN107666.

<9> 2012, Chronicle Memories: Daventry Calling, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN108622.

<10> Historic England, BBC TRANSMITTER STATION, DAVENTRY, BF104499 (Archive). SNN115400.

Record last edited

Sep 15 2023 2:32PM