Moorside Edge transmitting station

Moorside Edge

Mast height	158 metres (518 ft)
Coordinates	53°38′07″N 1°53′40″W / 53.6353°N 1.8944°W / 53.6353; -1.8944Coordinates: 53°38′07″N 1°53′40″W / 53.6353°N 1.8944°W / 53.6353; -1.8944
Grid reference	SE070154
Built	1930-31

Moorside Edge transmitting station, opened in 1931, was originally constructed to radiate the BBC's North Regional (from May 17 on 626 kHz) and National Programmes (from July 12 on 995 kHz).^[1]

It is – at 200 kW erp – one of the most powerful mediumwave radio transmitters in Britain. Formed of two 158-metre-high steel lattice towers, it is located just above Moorside Edge (grid reference SE070154). Other nearby transmitting stations are Holme Moss (11.56 km, bearing 168.17°) and Emley Moor (15.4 km, bearing 99.41°).

As with most mediumwave transmitters, a good "signal earth" is important and this is assured by the waterlogged nature of the ground on which it is built. The site's location on the Pennine Hills means that signals from Moorside Edge can be received at very long distances: as far north as Scotland, as far south as the Midlands, as far west as Dublin, and well beyond the country's eastern (North Sea) coast.

One of the four Ruston generating sets originally installed at Moorside Edge, now preserved at the Internal Fire Museum of Power

The station is now owned and operated by Arqiva and broadcasts the following services:

See also

• List of masts
• List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

References

External links

• Info and pictures of the Moorside Edge transmitter.
• The Transmission Gallery: Moorside Edge Transmitter photographs and information