| This collection shows the TV mast at Whitworth, Lancashire, which was built in 1974, and acts as a 'fill-in' relay for the Whitworth valley. Since those early days things have changed a lot, and as well as the 4 main TV channels (ITV and Channel 4 are run by Arqiva, and BBC One and BBC Two by NGW - National Grid Wireless). The mast now also supports a number of mobile phone antennas, which according to www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk include: Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone.
The National Grid Reference for this site is: SD886203 and the TV transmitter has a rated power level of 250 watts, and broadcasts vertically polarised signals in UHF Group A. This TV transmitter takes its feed from the nearby Bacup site, which takes its feed direct from the main transmitter at Winter Hill. You can see the Bacup site in a separate collection in this gallery. My last visit to this site was just after it was built in 1974, so hopefully I won't leave it quite so long before visiting again. The transmitter is due to be converted to digital in late 2009, so that will no doubt give me an incentive to go back there again to note any changes. Please note that all images were taken from outside the compound, often just through the railings. I certainly don't advise any visitors to attempt to enter these compounds at any time, although it would have been very difficult at this site as there was a 4 x 4 rally going on right outside the main entrance, which is why there aren't any pictures of that shown here. If you look carefully you can actually see some of the vehicles passing by - that's how close they were! 
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one of the mobile phone transmitter buildings - note the rallying Landrover right outside the compound! 950x712 whitworth12.jpg |
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This looks like part of the earth system, why it was uncovered I'm not sure! 950x712 whitworth16.jpg |
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The TV transmitters are in the white section at the top, the mobile phone aerials are mounted beneath this. 650x867 whitworth4.jpg |
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I think the brick building is the original TV transmitter building 950x712 whitworth8.jpg |
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