There are no less than five towers at the Bluebell Hill site!
The reason for this is most likely that the site's proximity to Rochester Airport imposes a height restriction, limiting how much can be added to each tower - hence a further tower was built (the second from the right in the photo below) to carry the aerials for the digital TV services.
Bluebell Hill A entered service on 25th February 1974, with BBC 1 & 2 and ITV London. Programme feed was via RBL from Crystal Palace for all three services. On 1st January 1982 the ITV service was re-assigned to the new south-east franchise operated by TVS. Channel 4 was added in December 1982. BBC 1 was re-assigned to their new south-east region on 3rd September 2001, line fed from the studios at Tunbridge Wells. The Bluebell Hill A UHF transmitting aerial was replaced prior to DSO, which was on 13th and 27th June 2012.
Bluebell Hill B was built for DTT and DAB services. DTT commenced during December 1998. DAB service dates are: BBC, 1st September 1997; Digital One, 11th August 1999; London 1, 14th June 2000; London 2, 14th November 2000.
Bluebell Hill C was built for the ILR Maidstone & Medway (Invicta Radio) service, which launched on 1st October 1984, on 103.8 MHz. This frequency was changed on 6th November 1985 to 103.1 MHz. |
