View source for Wrotham transmitting station

{{Short description|Transmitting station in Kent, England}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox UK transmitter
|name        = Wrotham
|image       = Wrotham Radio Mast - geograph.org.uk - 22600.jpg
|map_name    = Kent
|coordinates = {{coord|51.320727|0.287788|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
|location    = [[Wrotham]], [[Kent]]
|height      = {{convert|176.6|m|ft|0}}
|gridref     = TQ595604
|built       = 1951 <small>(original)</small><br />1981 <small>(current)</small>
|demolished  = 
|collapsed   = 
}}

The '''Wrotham transmitting station''' is located on the [[North Downs]], close to the village of [[Wrotham]] in [[Kent]], [[England]] and just north of the [[M20 motorway]]. Its [[British national grid reference system|National Grid]] Reference is {{gbmappingsmall|TQ595604}}. The current mast on the site was constructed in 1981, is {{convert|176.6|m|ft|0}} tall, and was built to replace the original mast of equal height that was constructed in 1951.

It is the main [[VHF]] [[FM broadcasting|FM]] transmitter for the national [[BBC]] radio networks in [[London]] and [[South East England]]. It currently transmits [[BBC Radio 1]], [[BBC Radio 2|2]], [[BBC Radio 3|3]] & [[BBC Radio 4|4]] and the independent national network [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]] (125&nbsp;kW [[Effective radiated power|ERP]]), [[BBC Radio Kent]] on 96.7 [[MHz]] (4.4&nbsp;kW ERP) and [[KMFM West Kent]] on 101.6&nbsp;MHz (0.2&nbsp;kW ERP). (There are two prominent towers in the south of [[Greater London]], [[Croydon transmitting station|Croydon]] and [[Crystal Palace transmitting station|Crystal Palace]], which provide a medium power (4&nbsp;kW ERP) relay of the national radio channels, in addition to local stations).

Wrotham was the first station in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] to broadcast on [[VHF]]/[[Frequency modulation|FM]], with three services beginning officially on 2 May 1955. It broadcast the [[BBC Home Service|Home Service]] (now [[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]]), the [[BBC Third Programme|Third Programme]] (now [[BBC Radio 3|Radio 3]]) and the [[BBC Light Programme|Light Programme]] (now [[BBC Radio 2|Radio 2]]). The frequencies it used for these programmes on FM in 1955 are still in use today. On 17 April 1966, it became the first BBC transmitter to broadcast in [[stereophonic sound|stereo]], with regular stereo broadcasts on the Third Programme from July 1966. On 18 December 1970, it began broadcasting Radio Medway (now [[BBC Radio Kent|Radio Kent]]) on 97.0&nbsp;MHz.

Wrotham was one of two VHF transmitters identified as BBC network centres in the event of a nuclear strike on the UK. A Cabinet Office paper from 1975 provides details of construction work outstanding at Wrotham, including protected accommodation for engineering staff at a cost of about thirty thousand pounds. Wrotham was part of the [[Wartime Broadcasting Service]], designed to allow transmission of pre and post strike messages to the estimated 22 million battery-powered radios in the UK.<ref>UK Cabinet Office paper CAB 164/1299 1975-76</ref>

On 3 December 2010, Wrotham began transmitting [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]]: [[CE London]] (London 1), [[Switch London]] (London 2), [[DRG London]] (London 3), [[Digital One]] and the [[BBC National DAB]] multiplex. The [[BBC National DAB]] multiplex is on the network's standard [[Single frequency network|SFN]], improving DAB coverage in North Kent and South London.<ref>[http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.6536.5 RadioToday: DAB introduced at Wrotham]</ref>

It is owned and operated by [[Arqiva]].

==History==
In the early 1950s, a microwave television link was constructed to London, from [[Harvel]], near Wrotham, Warren St at [[Lenham]] and going east to Swingate, then over the [[English Channel]] to [[Alembon]] and [[Cassel, Nord]] where the 405-lines was converted to 819 lines. The microwave network run by EMI and the GPO.<ref>''Lincolnshire Echo'' Thursday 26 June 1952, page 4</ref> In August 1950, TV had been broadcast via microwave from France, on to [[Lenham]], then to Bloomsbury in London, [[Senate House, London]]. The areas was a possible site for the London TV transmitter.

===FM===
An experimental FM service had been broadcasting since 1950, broadcasting the Third Programme. Contracts were placed by the BBC in January 1948. FM stations would cost £20,000 to £50,000.<ref>''Kent Messenger'' Friday 2 January 1948, page 1</ref> Construction began in March 1948. It would be 25kW, with a 18kW MW transmitter.<ref>''Western Morning News'' Wednesday 17 March 1948, page 3</ref> The 470ft mast would be built by BICC.<ref>''Dover Express'' Friday 22 October 1948, page 7</ref>

In March 1954 the BBC ordered 24 FM radio transmitters from Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. [[Herbrand Sackville, 9th Earl De La Warr]] was responsible for the siting of new radio services.<ref>''The Scotsman'' Tuesday 2 March 1954, page 7</ref>

==Channels listed by frequency==

===Analogue radio (FM VHF)===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Frequency
!kW
!Service
|-
|89.1 [[MHz]]
|250
|[[BBC Radio 2]]
|-
|91.3&nbsp;MHz
|250
|[[BBC Radio 3]]
|-
|93.5&nbsp;MHz
|250
|[[BBC Radio 4]]
|-
|96.7&nbsp;MHz
|8.7
|[[BBC Radio Kent]]
|-
|98.8&nbsp;MHz
|125
|[[BBC Radio 1]]
|-
|100.9&nbsp;MHz
|250
|[[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]
|-
|101.6&nbsp;MHz
|0.4
|[[KMFM West Kent]]
|}

===Digital radio (DAB)===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Frequency
!Block
!kW
!Operator
|-
|218.640&nbsp;MHz
|11B
|4.5
|[[DRG London]]
|-
|220.352&nbsp;MHz
|11C
|2
|[[NOW Kent]]
|-
|222.064&nbsp;MHz
|11D
|4.5
|[[Digital One]]
|-
|223.936&nbsp;MHz
|12A
|4.5
|[[Switch London]]
|-
|225.648&nbsp;MHz
|12B
|10
|[[BBC National DAB]]
|-
|227.360&nbsp;MHz
|12C
|4.5
|[[CE London]]
|}

==See also==
* [[List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Ordnance Survey coordinates|559450_160430_region:GB_scale:5000|Map and aerial photos}}
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=1150 The Transmission Gallery: Wrotham Mast photographs and information]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/mapsys/map.php?mapid=3 The Transmission Gallery: FM coverage map]
* [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/features/wrotham/ The Transmission Gallery: History of Wrotham]
* [http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=559500&Y=160000&width=500&height=300&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&zm=0&scale=10000&out.x=8&out.y=6 Location map (Multimap)]

{{Television transmitters in the UK}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kent]]
[[Category:Transmitter sites in England]]
[[Category:Tonbridge and Malling]]