Lichfield transmitting station

The station was the main 405-line ITV transmitter for the Midlands from 1956 to 1985. It has a {{convert|305.2|m|ft|0}} tall guyed mast.

The site was announced by the ITA in March 1955, to be 700 ft on Gentleshaw Hill, and to start broadcasting in December 1955. ITV itself would open in September 1955.Evening Despatch Thursday 24 March 1955, page 10

It would be built near Hints, Staffordshire, and be 445 ft. It would serve 6m viewers, with test transmissions planned for October 1955. Lichfield Rural Council discussed the planning proposal. Planning permission was given in May 1955.Staffordshire Sentinel Thursday 12 May 1955, page 9

In July 1955 a barrage balloon was flown at 500 ft.Peterborough Evening Telegraph Friday 8 July 1955, page 3 Construction had begun by August 1955.Grantham Journal Friday 19 August 1955, page 1 Test transmissions would begin on 10 October 1955.Nottingham Evening Post Monday 10 October 1955, page 7

It was planned to start on 17 February 1956, with test transmissions from 1 February. It cost around £300,000.Nottingham Evening Post Thursday 2 February 1956, page 4

The station came on air on 17 February 1956, using two 5 kW transmitters and a 16-stack antenna mounted on a {{convert|450|ft|m|0}} tall Eiffelised tower (one that is tapered exponentially towards the top).

Broadcasting began at 6.45pm. It began at 50kW, to be increased to 200kW.Staffordshire Sentinel Friday 17 February 1956, page 7Nottingham Evening Post Monday 20 February 1956, page 9

Work on a new mast began in early November 1960.Staffordshire Sentinel Wednesday 19 July 1961, page 4 The former tower was replaced by the tall mast which came into service on 18 July 1961. The 450 ft tower was dismantled in 1962 and shipped to Jersey, Channel Islands and re erected at Fremont Point on the north of the Island.

625-line colour transmitters for the region were all co-sited at the nearby Sutton Coldfield transmitting station until 1997, when Lichfield began broadcasting Channel 5 in the Midlands. At 1000 kW on C37 it was the most powerful Channel 5 transmitter in the country. Before the digital switchover, Lichfield effectively worked in conjunction with Sutton Coldfield (4 miles to the SW) to supply the full five analogue channels. Reception of Channel 5 from Lichfield was also receivable at viewable quality throughout the borders of North Wales.

All analogue TV transmissions ceased on 21 September 2011, as part of the digital switchover. A temporary HD multiplex BBC B (Mux HD) on C34 was moved to the Sutton Coldfield transmitting station on C40+ (626.2 MHz) thereby ceasing all analogue and digital television broadcasts from the Lichfield transmitter.

Analogue television is no longer broadcast from Lichfield. Channel 5 closed on 21 September 2011.

Digital television is no longer broadcast from Lichfield as of 21 September 2011.

• List of masts
• List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain
• List of radio stations in the United Kingdom

{{Reflist}}

• [http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=1329 The Transmission Gallery: photographs, coverage maps and information]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081011184442/http://www.meargreen.co.uk/bobcotton/ Bob Cotton's Lichfield Memories]
• http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b61327
• [http://www.thebigtower.com/live/Lichfield/Index.htm Lichfield Transmitter at thebigtower.com]

{{Television transmitters in the UK}}

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Category:Transmitter sites in England

Category:Lichfield District

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