Borough Hill

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The last remaining radio mast on the hill

Borough Hill is a hill to the east of the town of Daventry in the English county of Northamptonshire. It is 200 m above sea level and dominates the surrounding area.

[edit] Archaeology

Remains have been found on the hill of an Iron Age hillfort, and of a later Roman villa and farming settlement.

[edit] Transmitting station

In 1925 the BBC constructed a transmitting station which initially was used for Long Wave, and Short Wave broadcasting. The Long Wave service was moved to a new and better transmitter station located at Wychbold village near Droitwich in 1934. In the early years of the second world war, tests were carried out using one the short wave transmitters to carry out research work into Radar.

In 1952 the BBC constructed a 720ft mast at nearby Dodford for the BBC Third Programme, with a 150 kW transmitter located in a building near to the Short Wave transmitter building; but in 1978 this service was discontinued and the mast removed in 1984.

Due to the nature of short wave broadcasting large areas of Borough Hill was occupied with towers, and masts to support large antennae. Transmissions from the short wave station could be received across the world.

Many engineers were employed by the BBC to work at the station and a number decided to settle in Daventry, and to this day many former BBC staff remain in Daventry.

The BBC decided to close the station and on the 28 March 1992 the last transmission took place, and the transmission equipment was moved to other BBC World Service transmitters around the country, and station became an Electronic Service centre for the repair of BBC transmission equipment, and a local transmitter maintenance team was also based here until the late 1990s. The station has found many uses including the training of engineers, storage of equipment, spare antennae and masts. The station is now owned by National Grid Wireless.

The former antenna field is now open grassland allowing free public access.