Washford transmitting station is a

medium wave Medium wave (MW) is a part of the medium frequency (MF) radio band used mainly for AM radio broadcasting. The spectrum provides about 120 channels with more limited sound quality than FM stations on the FM broadcast band. During the daytim ...

broadcasting Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

station and low-power

digital terrestrial television Digital terrestrial television (DTTV, DTT, or DTTB) is a technology for terrestrial television, in which television stations broadcast television content in a digital signal, digital format. Digital terrestrial television is a major technologica ...

relay near

Washford Washford is a village on the Washford River in the civil parish of Old Cleeve, Somerset, England. The village is next to Cleeve Abbey, one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in England. It centred in a valley close to the Bristol Ch ...

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

. A smaller mast is used to relay digital terrestrial television services from the

Mendip transmitting station The Mendip transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility on the summit of Pen Hill, part of the Mendip Hills range in Somerset, England, at above sea level. The station is in St Cuthbert Out civil parish, approximat ...

. This mast carries the three public service multiplexes at an E.R.P. of 12.4 W. The front portions of the old transmitter building are now part of the Tropiquaria wildlife park and house their tropical hall, aquarium, and nocturnal house. The majority of the old building became surplus to the BBC's requirements in 1981 when new, smaller equipment was installed in a separate building to the rear. Two schemes subsequently failed to materialise for the old building: one to transform it into a public swimming pool and another to replace it with a

Little Chef Little Chef was a British chain of roadside restaurants; founded in 1958 by Sam Alper and Peter Merchant who were inspired by American Diner, diners. The chain was famous for the "Olympic Breakfast" – its version of a full English breakfast � ...

restaurant. In 1987, a £100,000 scheme to transform the site into an aquarium and reptile house was proposed by the consortium Ark Enterprises Ltd, headed by Stephen Smith. Both a 21-year lease on the building and planning permission were acquired in 1987, and Tropiquaria opened in 1989. The transmitter building is a Grade II

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

History

It was built in 1933 and uses a T-antenna between two tall guyed masts separated by a distance of 159 metres (174 yards). Originally the station used cage antennas around each mast. The station uses the frequencies 882 kHz with 100 kW, and 1089 kHz with 50 kW It was also known as Watchet. It would be near Washford Cross. The BBC West region was in Cardiff. It cost £150,000.

Construction

On Friday 10 June 1932 a 50 ft girder collapsed and three men were crushed, Joe Willie Rowbottom, a rigger, died in hospital at 7pm on Saturday 11 June 1932. The other injured men were Leonard Bruce and Benjamin Bryne.

Transmission

Transmission tests would begin on Monday 24 April 1933. The West Regional transmitter opened on 9 May 1933.''Western Daily Press'' Wednesday 10 May 1933, page 7 Transmission tests on the national programme started on Monday 17 July 1933.

Services available

Analogue radio (AM medium wave)

Digital television

Digital television began transmitting from Washford during the digital switchover in 2010. As a low-power relay, it only carries the three public service multiplexes.

Analogue television

Analogue television was transmitted from Washford until the digital switchover of the Mendip transmitter group between 24 March - 7 April 2010.

References

External links

* http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=629 {{Television transmitters in the UK Buildings and structures in West Somerset Radio masts and towers in Europe Transmitter sites in England Grade II listed buildings in West Somerset