Built during 1966 for completion early in 1967, the original purpose of the transmitter was to provide BBC2 coverage to much of the East Midlands. Unfortunately, the mast collapsed before it was due to enter service and had to be rebuilt, delaying its opening until 1968, with BBC1 and ITV being added in 1970.

The photo feature above is from The Times, dated 17-Nov-1966. [Thanks to Richard Marshall for this.]

On time with Channel 4 (Nov 1982), unlike its major relay, Nottingham, it did not get Channel 5 until August 1997, during phase II of transmitter building.

Waltham can be received in large parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland and also watchable in parts of Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and South Yorkshire.

Peter Bigwood remarked, on visiting the site: "I have to say that I find these cylindrical towers to be somewhat unnerving. Perhaps it is just the unfortunate history of Emley Moor, Belmont. and this monster."

Note in one photo [fourth from bottom] you can see the door from the tower to the platform and in file 10 the door at the base of the tower.

It seems that all 6 tubular steel masts (Winter Hill, Belmont, Mendip, Bilsdale, Waltham and, of course, the ill-fated 1265 foot mast at Emley Moor) all had lifts installed. The lifts were designed to carry the aerial riggers to the top of the tubular steel section. Ascent of the weather shield protected lattice transmitting aerial support section was made by ladder. The idea of this feature was to protect the riggers against the wind & weather that they were subjected to working on lattice steel masts & towers.

Another useful feature is that the aircraft warning lamps can be swung in internally so that they can be changed.

In recent Years NTL have fitted 150 tons of damping chains at Winter Hill & Belmont to reduce the oscillations caused by high winds that were a factor in the collapse of the Emley Moor Mast in 1969.