Stowe Nine Churches
Encyclopedia
Stowe Nine Churches is a civil parish
incorporating the settlements of Church Stowe
and Upper Stowe
in the English
county of Northamptonshire
.
it is often referred to as Stowe IX Churches.
Population from 2001 census is 248.
It was in Upper Stowe, about three miles south of Weedon Bec
, that the principles of radar were first found to be a practical possibility, and not just a theoretical proposal. On the evening of 25 February 1935, radio wave detection equipment, including an oscilloscope
, was brought from the National Physical Laboratory (via the A5) in an old ambulance to a field close to the village. The field was just off the road (Welsh Lane - former B4525) between Litchborough
and Bugbrooke
, about 400 metres from the A5 and close to the Daventry
district and South Northamptonshire
boundary..
Arnold Frederic Wilkins
OBE and an assistant prepared the equipment, which was to listen-in for any extraneous radio waves (interference) on the BBC's wavelength of 49 metres as a plane flew overhead. In the early morning (Tuesday 26 February), the Handley Page Heyford
(a biplane
) K6902 took off from RAE Farnborough
and climbed to 6,000ft, being piloted by Flt Lt
Robert Blucke
(1897-1988). The Heyford was probably the largest aircraft the RAF
had at the time. The radio signals to be tested came from the Marconi
/BBC transmitter at Borough Hill
two miles to the north-west.
The oscilloscope detected that there was disturbance in the amount of electromagnetic energy
being received on the BBC's wavelength when the plane flew overhead, and thus radio waves could detect the presence of aircraft, and the approximate navigational position
. The aircraft's position was tracked up to a distance of eight miles.
The pilot, Bobby Blucke, would later become Air Vice-Marshal
Blucke CB CBE. He was in charge of Blind Approach Training in 1939 and commanded No. 1 Group RAF
in 1945. He died on 2 October 1988.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
incorporating the settlements of Church Stowe
Church Stowe
Church Stowe is a village in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England. It is the largest settlement in the civil parish of Stowe Nine Churches.- External links :*...
and Upper Stowe
Upper Stowe
Upper Stowe is a village in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England. It is in the civil parish of Stowe Nine Churches.- External links :...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
.
Name
'Stowe' is a common English place-name, hence this was distinguished from others of the same name by the addition of the descriptor 'Nine Churches'. In former times the lord of the manor had within his gift the appointment of the rectors of nine different churches.Geography
Forming part of Daventry districtDaventry (district)
The Daventry district is the largest local government district of western Northamptonshire, England. The district is named after the town of Daventry which is the administrative headquarters and largest town...
it is often referred to as Stowe IX Churches.
Population from 2001 census is 248.
Experimental evidence for the principles of radar
Weedon Bec
Weedon Bec , usually just called "Weedon", is a large village and parish in the district of Daventry, Northamptonshire, England. It lies close to the source of the River Nene.-Geography:...
, that the principles of radar were first found to be a practical possibility, and not just a theoretical proposal. On the evening of 25 February 1935, radio wave detection equipment, including an oscilloscope
Oscilloscope
An oscilloscope is a type of electronic test instrument that allows observation of constantly varying signal voltages, usually as a two-dimensional graph of one or more electrical potential differences using the vertical or 'Y' axis, plotted as a function of time,...
, was brought from the National Physical Laboratory (via the A5) in an old ambulance to a field close to the village. The field was just off the road (Welsh Lane - former B4525) between Litchborough
Litchborough
Litchborough is a village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, England. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 300 people. It is about north-west of Towcester....
and Bugbrooke
Bugbrooke
Bugbrooke is a large village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, on a ridge overlooking the valley of the River Nene.-Location:It is about south west of Northampton...
, about 400 metres from the A5 and close to the Daventry
Daventry (district)
The Daventry district is the largest local government district of western Northamptonshire, England. The district is named after the town of Daventry which is the administrative headquarters and largest town...
district and South Northamptonshire
South Northamptonshire
South Northamptonshire is a local government district in Northamptonshire, England. Its council is based in Towcester.The district is rural and sparsely populated with just over 79,293 people in 2000 and 91,000 in 2008, a 14.8% increase. The largest town in the district is Brackley, which has a...
boundary..
Arnold Frederic Wilkins
Arnold Frederic Wilkins
Arnold Frederic Wilkins O.B.E., was a pioneer in developing the use of radar.-Early life:...
OBE and an assistant prepared the equipment, which was to listen-in for any extraneous radio waves (interference) on the BBC's wavelength of 49 metres as a plane flew overhead. In the early morning (Tuesday 26 February), the Handley Page Heyford
Handley Page Heyford
The Handley Page Heyford was a twin-engine British biplane bomber of the 1930s. Although it had a short service life, it equipped several squadrons of the RAF as one of the most important British bombers of the mid-1930s, and was the last biplane heavy bomber to serve with the RAF.-Design and...
(a biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
) K6902 took off from RAE Farnborough
Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport is an airport situated in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire, England...
and climbed to 6,000ft, being piloted by Flt Lt
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Robert Blucke
Robert Blucke
Air Vice Marshal Robert Stewart Blucke CB CBE DSO AFC & Bar was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Transport Command.-RAF career:...
(1897-1988). The Heyford was probably the largest aircraft the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
had at the time. The radio signals to be tested came from the Marconi
Marconi Company
The Marconi Company Ltd. was founded by Guglielmo Marconi in 1897 as The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company...
/BBC transmitter at Borough Hill
Borough Hill
Borough Hill is a hill to the east of the town of Daventry in the English county of Northamptonshire. It is over above sea level and dominates the surrounding area.-Archaeology:...
two miles to the north-west.
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
being received on the BBC's wavelength when the plane flew overhead, and thus radio waves could detect the presence of aircraft, and the approximate navigational position
Bearing (navigation)
In marine navigation, a bearing is the direction one object is from another object, usually, the direction of an object from one's own vessel. In aircraft navigation, a bearing is the actual compass direction of the forward course of the aircraft...
. The aircraft's position was tracked up to a distance of eight miles.
The pilot, Bobby Blucke, would later become Air Vice-Marshal
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
Blucke CB CBE. He was in charge of Blind Approach Training in 1939 and commanded No. 1 Group RAF
No. 1 Group RAF
Number 1 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two operations groups in Air Command.The group is today referred to as the Air Combat Group, as it controls the RAF's combat fast-jet aircraft and has airfields in the UK plus RAF Unit Goose Bay in Canada, which is used extensively as an...
in 1945. He died on 2 October 1988.