Borough Hill is More Than Just A Hill!

Daventry actually has a lot of history behind it. In 1925 the BBC built a transmitting station here to broadcast long wave and short wave services. 

WHY??????

 

Firstly the BBC wanted a single station that could transmit to as many people as possible to do this they would need a single well placed transmitter which would be able to reach around 85% of the population in the country.

 

There were other sites in the running but Borough Hill had one main advantage the other sites didn’t – it had a flat top and had a central location in the country! It also had a height of 600′ above sea level. So this is how Daventry started its 67 year long association with the BBC as the location for their Broadcasting station.

 The grand opening of the station took place on 27th July at 7.30pm. As part of the opening celebrations the BBC’s Director General, John Reith, read a poem written by the poet laureate Alfred Noyes. 

[ http://www.myattraction.co.uk/daventry/blog/2014/01/borough-hill-daventry/]

 

“Daventry Calling” You shall hear their lightest tone – Stealing through your walls of stone – Till your loneliest valleys hear – The far cathedral’s whispered prayer. Daventry calling … Daventry calling …. Daventry calling … Dark and still – The tree of memory stands like a sentry – Over the graves on the silent hill.

Badby Park my working place - Badby Park is a specialist nursing and rehabilitation facility with comprehensive services dedicated to neurological illnesses and disorders

 

 Today it is a large grass area referred to as “Borough Hill Park” open to the general public to enjoy all year round. The views are amazing from the top and it is used by runners, walkers and dog walkers.

 The radio announcement of “Daventry Calling” made Daventry well-known across the world.