Borough Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Borough Hill |
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The last remaining radio mast on the hill
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 199 m (653 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Northamptonshire, England |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Prominent hill |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Lane up to the BBC Transmitting station |
Borough Hill is a hill found east of Daventry town in Northamptonshire, England. It stands almost 200 meters (about 650 feet) above sea level. This makes it a very noticeable landmark in the area around it.
Contents
A Look Back at Borough Hill's History
Borough Hill has been a home for people for a very long time. People lived here even before recorded history began.
Ancient Times on the Hill
Archaeologists have found signs of ancient life on the hill. They discovered two old burial mounds from the Bronze Age. They also found two Iron Age hillforts. One of these hillforts is the fourth largest ever found in Britain! Later, a Roman villa (a large Roman house) and a farming village were built here. Today, Borough Hill is a special protected historical site.
Digging Up the Past: Archaeologists at Work
In 1823, a historian named George Baker started the first dig on the hill. He found the remains of the Roman villa. Later, in 1852, another local historian, Beriah Botfield, did a full excavation. He wrote down everything he found. His notes and some of the old objects are now kept at the British Museum.
Borough Hill and the English Civil War
In 1645, Borough Hill played a part in the English Civil War. King Charles I and his Royalist army used the hill as a base. This was just a week before the Battle of Naseby. In that battle, the King's army was defeated by Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Parliamentarian army.
Sending Signals: The Transmitting Station
In 1925, the BBC built a radio transmitting station on Borough Hill. It first sent out long wave and short wave radio signals. These signals could travel very long distances.
Early Radio Broadcasting
The long wave radio service moved to a new station in 1934. This new station was near Droitwich.
The Birth of Radar
On February 26, 1935, the transmitter was used for a very important experiment. Scientists Robert Watson-Watt and Arnold Wilkins used it to test an early form of RADAR. This experiment showed that radio waves could be used to find airplanes. This was a huge step for technology!
How the Station Changed
In 1950, the BBC built a huge 720-foot (220-meter) mast nearby. This was for a BBC radio channel called the Third Programme. This service ended in 1978, and the big mast was taken down in 1984.
Because short wave radio needs big antennas, much of Borough Hill was covered with towers and masts. Radio broadcasts from this station could be heard all over the world. Many engineers worked for the BBC at this station. Some of them even decided to live in Daventry.
The BBC decided to close the station. On March 28, 1992, the last radio signal was sent. The broadcasting equipment was moved to other BBC World Service stations. Borough Hill then became a place where BBC equipment was repaired. A team for maintaining local transmitters also worked there until the late 1990s. Now, only one radio mast is left. A company called Arqiva operates it.
Watching for Danger: The ROC Post
Borough Hill was also home to the ROC Post Daventry. This was part of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation. This group watched for dangers, like enemy aircraft during the Cold War. This post closed in September 1991.
Borough Hill Today: A Place for Everyone
After the radio station closed, most of the land was bought by Daventry District Council. They opened it up to the public as a country park. Now, people can visit and enjoy the hill's history and nature.
Images for kids
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The last remaining radio mast on the hill
