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THE TRANSMISSION GALLERY
THE WREKIN
| Photos by Mark Carver | Page last updated: 2023-09-10 |
| The Wrekin was the last UHF main station to open in England & Wales entering service in December 1975. A theoretical investigation into the sites use was began early in 1966, engineering tests confirmed its suitability, and there were no aircraft safety problems. Unfortunately the Wrekin is a local beauty spot beloved by most Salopians and visited by them and many others throughout the year. It would assume even greater importance as the new town of Telford developed near its base. It is surmounted by an iron age double fort scheduled as an ancient monument. Naturally there was much local discussion about the BBC's proposals and senior planning officials of the Salop county council felt at the time that the Wrekin should not be used for a television station site. The BBC considered alternatives sites. Haughmond Hill was abandoned because of air navigation requirements, Long Mynd was unsuitable because a mast there would have seriously affected the nearby Midland Gliding Club and Caer Caradoc Hill was technically inferior and presented major problems of access and construction. This left Stiperstones Hills, less well know than the Wrekin, but equally important in amenity. The BBC sought planning consent in July 1968 and a public inquiry was held. The minister of Housing and Local Government asked the Corporation to consider more fully, The Wrekin. The outcome of a second inquiry in March 1970, consent was granted. |
| The above photo is taken from a BBC Handbook and shows The Wrekin in the mid-70s, shortly after it opened, devoid of the usual mobile phone and utilities aerial we are familiar with today. |
| Mark Carver took this photo of the site a little more recently in September 1988. The Band II aerials are evident but the DTT aerials were not yet installed. |
History of The Wrekin Tx (BBC Shropshire article)
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