Atemporary 310m mast was in use from May 2018 to to Sept 2023 to enable transmissions to continue whilst the existing mast’s antennas are being modified to prepare for the 700MHz clearance.
See pictures of its construction on thisthis MB21 link, and a video of its dismantling onthis BBC news link.
Emley Moor tower is the tallest free standing structure in the UK at 328m (a.g.l), that’s 1084 ft. The Shard (2012) is “only” 310m high.
Incidentally,how high is high ? Andhow long would it take for a spanner, dropped off Emley tower, to hit the ground ? ! ?
The veryfirst Emley Moor transmitter was a125m steel lattice tower* built in 1956 to broadcast ITVon the old 405 lineVHF system. As such it worked in tandem with the originalHolme Moss mast, which transmitted the BBC channel on VHF, only one programme remember because BBC2 didn’t start till 1964. Duplicated transmitters were/are also used atSutton Coldfield / Lichfield,Crystal Palace / Croydon andPontop Pike / Burnhope amongst others. BBC2 started625 line UHF transmissions -in colors ! - from the second (ill fated) Emley mast in 1967.
As a matter of interest the short lived 1966 mast (see below) never transmitted BBC1 at all and only transmitted ITV onVHF because BBC1 and ITV did not start transmitting on UHF - in colour - until November 1969 (i.e. after the Emley Moor UHF transmitter had collapsed, see below).
*This 1956 structure was rebuilt atCraigkelly in 1971 to provide UHF TV to SE Scotland.
The next transmitter, built in 1966, was a cable stayed mast [the same design asBelmont built by BICC. This mast was even taller than the present structure at385m, but this infamously blew down in March 1969. One theory was that a weak point in the design was found wanting by the unprecedented weather, possibly due to the wind setting up oscillation in the structure. Others speculated that there was so much ice on the cable stays that the weight broke them, after that the mast was doomed.... It had only been up for 3 years ! A 61m temporary mast was bought in and this replacement mast began transmitting just 3 days and 23 hours later, impressive......Later a taller204m interim mast was sourced from Sweden and a team of Polish riggers were bought in to erect it. It was rumoured they were the only people who were willing to work in the winter conditions prevailing at the time ! This taller temporary mast was in use within a month, even more impressive……
The present Emley Moor tower started transmissions on the 21 Jan 1971 and it is an elegant tapered concrete structure. In fact, to many people, Emley is iconic and fully deserving of the Grade 2 listed status it received in 2002. Emley Moor transmitter was originally owned by the ITA (Independent Television Authority) then it was sold off to NTL and finally to Arquiva (sic). This area of high ground is perfect for RF (Radio Frequency) transmission and bothHolme Moss andMoorside Edge transmitters are visible (SW and WNW respectively) from the site.
As one travels North on the M1 Emley is on the left. Whenever I return back home from a long journey, I find the sight of Emley somewhat comforting, I know there isn’t long to go now ! Incidentally, this stretch of the M1 was opened in 1968, doesn’t time fly.....
Emley Moor’spopulation coverage is the fourth highest of any UK transmitter at about 4 million people and its signals are received in many large towns/cities including Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield and Doncaster.