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UK Broadcast Transmission |
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THE TRANSMISSION GALLERY
DAVENTRY
| Photos by Richard Reich | Page last updated: 2024-04-04 |
| Daventry is the oldest former BBC transmission site, which is still in use. The first high power AM (Long Wave) station 5XX opened here on 27-July 1925 operating on a wavelength of 1600m., bringing good reception of the National Programme to 94% of the UK population. (Droitwich took over on 7-Oct-1934). An experimental high power (Medium Wave) station 5GB was added on 21-Aug 1927, operating on 610 kHz at 30 kW. This replaced the low power Birmingham station, 5IT. In turn, 5GB was replaced by the new Droitwich Midland regional transmitter on 17-Feb 1935. Daventry is best remembered as a major Short Wave transmitting site. The BBC Empire Service was inaugurated from here on 19-Dec 1932, and by the outbreak of WW2, Daventry had 8 Short Wave transmitters. Daventry also broadcast the Third Programme and BBC Europe to most of England and parts of Western Europe from the frequency changes of 15-Mar 1950, until 23-Nov 1978, on 464m (647kHz). Initially this was from a temporary T-aerial, then from 8-Apr 1951, from the mast pictured below, which was about 2 km east of the main site at Dodford (Grid Ref. SP 608620). Daventry ceased all broadcasting with the closure of Short Wave transmissions here on 29-Mar 1992, but returned to broadcasting on 1-Aug 1997 when BBC National DAB went into service. |
| The anti-fading mast of the Third Programme transmitter at Daventry. The top section of the 725-foot mast was fed by an inductor across and insulator at the 460-foot level. The base of the mast was insulated from the ground and the radial spokes at the top increased the capacitance to ground. From 1955 the break insulator was removed, the mast then became a conventional base-fed radiator. |
| The Radio 3 mast at Daventry was demolished on 8th September 1984. The next three photos, by Richard Reich, date from 1981. |
| The main transmitter mast at Daventry |
| The control desk for Sender 8 in the East transmitter hall. Each transmitter had its own desk similar to the one in the picture. The transmitter in the background is Sender 9 and the object in the top right hand corner is an "Ia" (Intermediate amplifier) truck. Stuart Winsor worked at Daventry from 1970 till HF operations ceased in around 1991. He says: "For some obscure historical reason all short wave transmitters are known as "Senders" and Senders 8, 9, 10 & 11 were Marconi type SWB18 or "Swob18" in local speech. They were rated to 100kW and were "rapid wavechange", covering the shortwave broadcast bands from 75 to 11m, though I don't recall seeing one above 17m. "The "fixed" components of the tuned circuits were mounted on trucks to be wheeled in and out quickly when required. An Ia truck is shown in the picture and the trucks carrying the "Final" components were on rails round the back of the Sender. 8 & 9 were pre-war and 10 & 11 were put in during the early part of the war. The later senders were slightly different and, due to wartime economies required in metal, had parts of the control desk made of wood. However, this was well painted and disguised and needed a close look to discern the difference." The next photo now becomes something of a mystery because Stuart says: "These are definitely not shortwave, being far too large. I was only ever in there once but I would suggest the inside of the R3 ATH at Dodford. (The R3 transmitter mast was approx 2miles away from the main Daventry site, at Dodford). It could have been inside the R3 transmitter but it seems too spacious and I don't recall the small tool board with the "C" spanners." |
Daventry calling the world
BBC AM Radio in the 1960s
BBC RD Interim report on Daventry Third Programme Mast Radiator (1951)
More details of the Third Programme Tx on the bbceng info website
Daventry closure (BBC Eng Inf 48)
Dodford mast demolition (BBC Eng Inf 19, last page)
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