Building record 7993/1/1 - Cold War Microwave Communications Tower

Post-war microwave communications tower, part of the military communication network known as 'Backbone'.

{2}Recognised that even underground telephone exchanges & cables were vulnerable to H-bomb led by mid 1950s to initial development of emergency microwave communications systems – generally known as ‘Backbone’. System designed to maintain government communications across country between emergency centres of government and between military establishments. Other dedicated microwave communications systems also developed by military. Many also carried civil communications networks including early TV transmitters.

Microwave communications towers distribributed across the country but generally in prominent positions away from urban centres. Considerable typological variation in their design. Towers erected in mid 1950s formed of steel sections and may be stepped to accept contememporary horn shaped aerials. In 1960s hollow cylindrical towers were adopted with platforms on which to mount aerials. Later in decade modular steel framed towers were developed, flexible to allow extension. Location of all known though type at each is unknown. Further assessment required.

{3} Telecom tower is part of ‘Backbone’, the military communication network of which the towers (2) at Charwelton are a major link. It links Stokenchurch in the south with Copt Oak further north. A secondary microwave link connects Dunstable with the Birmingham Telecom Tower. AA also provided 2 colour photos. One of latter depicts 2 towers, one steel and one circular concrete with galleries confined to top.


{5} AA writes that in the 1980s he “was given a piece of Jaguar XX977 by a BT engineer who was working at Charwelton radio tower. The aircraft flew into one of the microwave horns on the top of the tower, shortening it by about six feet (see picture) and chopping off a large piece of wing, before making an emergency landing at Thurleigh in Bedfordshire.

<1> Armishaw A., 2001, Charwelton Microwave Tower, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN101425.

<2> Cocroft W.D., 2001, Cold War Monuments: An Assessment by the Monuments Protection Programme, (unchecked) (Report). SNN101426.

<3> Armishaw A., 2001, Correspondence, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN101427.

<4> Cadman G., 2002, Slides: Charwelton field buildings and telecom tower, (unchecked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN101656.

<5> Armishaw, A., 2007, Charwelton Radio Tower, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN107275.

<6> Daventry Express, 1984, Low Flying Jet Hits Radio Mast, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107276.

<7> Campbell D., 1983, War Plan UK: The Truth About Civil Defence in Britain, p.305 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN104601.

<8> Cadman, G., 2002, Charwelton Microwave Towers, (checked) (Photographs). SNN108905.

<9> Cadman, G., 2005, Charwelton Telecom Towers, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN109080.

Record last edited

Feb 29 2024 11:11AM