Portishead Radio
Encyclopedia
Portishead Radio was a radio station
in England that provided worldwide maritime communications and long-range aeronautical communication
s from 1928 until 2000. It was the world's largest and busiest radiotelephony station. In 1974, there were 154 radio operators who handled over 20 million words per year.
, near Burnham-on-Sea
, opened in July 1928. It was constructed by Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company and operated by the General Post Office (GPO). Following the privatisation of the post office in 1981, the station was operated by British Telecommunications PLC (now known as BT Group PLC).
The main transmitting station, which was remotely operated, originally consisted of a large array of radio masts at nearby Portishead Down
s; it was replaced by a single radio mast at Clevedon
. It was used until 1972. Various other remotely operated transmitting stations, including Devizes
, Rugby, Leafield
, Chipping Ongar
, and Dorchester, were also used.
By 1936, the station had a staff of 60 radio officers who handled over 3 million words of radio traffic per year.
in maintaining communications with the British merchant navy and with patrol aircraft in the North Atlantic. During the war, all communications with ships were one-way in order to avoid revealing the ships' locations to the enemy. The station was short staffed because many staff were away on secondments to various government services, such as operating other radio stations and training new radio officers to work in naval convoys. In 1943, the workload was so great that a Royal Navy
officer and 18 telegraphists were brought in from HMS Flowerdown, a Naval Shore Wireless Service station near Winchester
.
During the 1950s and 1960s, there was a steady increase in traffic levels, and the telex-over-radio (TOR) system started operations. By 1965, the station employed 86 radio officers who handled over 11 million words of traffic per year, communicating with on average over 1000 ships per day.
By 1974, traffic levels reached over 20 million words per year, handled by 154 radio officers. The rise in traffic was driven by demand from the oil market, the deepwater fishing industry, and the leisure boating market.
Competition from satellite communications, which began in the 1980s, initially had little effect on the station's business, which continued to expand. In 1983, a new control centre was opened, adding new radiotelephone and radiotelegraphy consoles, and an automatic radiotelex facility.
In the station's penultimate year to March 1999, there were on average per month 571 radio telegrams, 533 radio telephone calls, and 4001 radio telex calls.
bands 3-30 MHz) ceased at midnight on 31 August 1999. The short-range VHF maritime band (156-174 MHz) services closed at 12:00 on Sunday 30 April 2000, and the medium-range services (MF
maritime band 1.6-3.0 MHz) services at 12:00 on Friday 30 June. The station closed in April 2000.
In September 2004, Sedgemoor District Council adopted a local development plan that included the site of Portishead Radio for future housing development. In October 2007, planning permission for a development of 190 houses and flats on the site was granted, and shortly afterwards the old radio station buildings were demolished.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in England that provided worldwide maritime communications and long-range aeronautical communication
Airband
Airband or Aircraft band is the name for a group of frequencies in the VHF radio spectrum allocated to radio communication in civil aviation, sometimes also referred to as VHF, or phonetically as "Victor"...
s from 1928 until 2000. It was the world's largest and busiest radiotelephony station. In 1974, there were 154 radio operators who handled over 20 million words per year.
1920–1939
The station's control centre, which was based at HighbridgeHighbridge, Somerset
Highbridge is a small market town situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels near the mouth of the River Brue. It is in the County of Somerset, and is approximately north west of Taunton, the county town of Somerset. Highbridge is in the District of Sedgemoor, being situated approximately north...
, near Burnham-on-Sea
Burnham-on-Sea
Burnham-on-Sea is a town in Somerset, England, at the mouth of the River Parrett and Bridgwater Bay. Burnham was a small village until the late 18th century, when it began to grow because of its popularity as a seaside resort. It forms part of the parish of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge...
, opened in July 1928. It was constructed by Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company and operated by the General Post Office (GPO). Following the privatisation of the post office in 1981, the station was operated by British Telecommunications PLC (now known as BT Group PLC).
The main transmitting station, which was remotely operated, originally consisted of a large array of radio masts at nearby Portishead Down
Portishead, Somerset
Portishead is a coastal town on the Severn Estuary within the unitary authority of North Somerset, which falls within the ceremonial county of Somerset England. It has a population of 22,000, an increase of over 3,000 since the 2001 census, with a growth rate of 40 per cent, considerably in excess...
s; it was replaced by a single radio mast at Clevedon
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
. It was used until 1972. Various other remotely operated transmitting stations, including Devizes
Devizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
, Rugby, Leafield
Leafield
Leafield is a village and civil parish about northwest of Witney in West Oxfordshire. The parish includes the hamlet of Langley, west of Leafield village....
, Chipping Ongar
Chipping Ongar
Chipping Ongar is a small market town, and a civil parish called Ongar, in the Epping Forest district of the county of Essex, England. It is located East of Epping, South-East of Harlow and North-West of Brentwood.-Geography:...
, and Dorchester, were also used.
By 1936, the station had a staff of 60 radio officers who handled over 3 million words of radio traffic per year.
World War II
The station played a vital role during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in maintaining communications with the British merchant navy and with patrol aircraft in the North Atlantic. During the war, all communications with ships were one-way in order to avoid revealing the ships' locations to the enemy. The station was short staffed because many staff were away on secondments to various government services, such as operating other radio stations and training new radio officers to work in naval convoys. In 1943, the workload was so great that a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer and 18 telegraphists were brought in from HMS Flowerdown, a Naval Shore Wireless Service station near Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
.
Expansion: 1946–1985
In 1948, the station was expanded again, adding two new operating rooms with 32 new radio operator positions, a broadcasting and landline room, and a file of ship and aircraft positions plotted using magnetic indicators on a 36 by 16 ft steel map of the world.During the 1950s and 1960s, there was a steady increase in traffic levels, and the telex-over-radio (TOR) system started operations. By 1965, the station employed 86 radio officers who handled over 11 million words of traffic per year, communicating with on average over 1000 ships per day.
By 1974, traffic levels reached over 20 million words per year, handled by 154 radio officers. The rise in traffic was driven by demand from the oil market, the deepwater fishing industry, and the leisure boating market.
Competition from satellite communications, which began in the 1980s, initially had little effect on the station's business, which continued to expand. In 1983, a new control centre was opened, adding new radiotelephone and radiotelegraphy consoles, and an automatic radiotelex facility.
Decline: 1985–1999
By the end of the 1980s, satellite communications had started to take an increasingly large share of the station's business, and a program of severe rationalisation was started, leading to the closure of two transmitting sites at Leafield and Ongar.In the station's penultimate year to March 1999, there were on average per month 571 radio telegrams, 533 radio telephone calls, and 4001 radio telex calls.
Closure and redevelopment of the site
In 1998, British Telecom Maritime Radio Services announced its planned closure of Portishead Radio. The long-range services (HFHigh frequency
High frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...
bands 3-30 MHz) ceased at midnight on 31 August 1999. The short-range VHF maritime band (156-174 MHz) services closed at 12:00 on Sunday 30 April 2000, and the medium-range services (MF
Medium frequency
Medium frequency refers to radio frequencies in the range of 300 kHz to 3 MHz. Part of this band is the medium wave AM broadcast band. The MF band is also known as the hectometer band or hectometer wave as the wavelengths range from ten down to one hectometers...
maritime band 1.6-3.0 MHz) services at 12:00 on Friday 30 June. The station closed in April 2000.
In September 2004, Sedgemoor District Council adopted a local development plan that included the site of Portishead Radio for future housing development. In October 2007, planning permission for a development of 190 houses and flats on the site was granted, and shortly afterwards the old radio station buildings were demolished.