The Liverpool Group H transmitter was located on the site of the former Crawford's Biscuit factory on Binns Road in Fairfield, now occupied by a different company (see photo 1). It entered service transmitting the Home Service on 1474 kHz on 16-Jan-1941.
Group H transmitters were installed at 61 large population centres during WWII, to provide for the transmission of special bulletins and instructions by Regional Commissioners in the event of an invasion and to provide continuity of service when the main transmitters were shut down during air raids.
The secrecy surrounding these Group H sites is illustrated by the story of an armed police patrol that challenged a man who appeared to be over-curious as to what lay on the other side of the wall in the adjacent Dryden Road in July 1945. (See map). Replying to the officer's challenge, the man said calmly, "I cannot tell you what I’m doing. What I am looking for is secret!" The officer pressed his inquiries but, without success, the man refused to "move on." At last, the officer lifted a corner of his jacket to reveal a pistol and holster, and tapping them said, "I don’t carry this for nothing. Now, perhaps I can help you." The man pondered a moment, then said, "I’m looking for the BBC. They’ve sent me up to measure the floor for a covering of linoleum."
The transmitter in use was 100 watts, although the aerial system in use isn’t clear, but typically such Group H sites used a sloping wire attached to the top of a chimney. (See photo 3). Transmissions of the Home Service ceased on 28-Jul-1945 when the BBC resumed peacetime broadcasting, but the site was reactivated to transmit the new Third Programme which launched on 29-Sep-1946. Transmissions ceased on 23-Jan-1950 when the Third Programme was transferred to a new, more powerful site on Mersey Road in Birkenhead. (Liverpool MF).
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