The History
First we should mention the history of the whole complex known locally as 'Radar Hill' before discussing the tower itself. It formed part of a complex known as Bushy Hill Research Station acquired in 1954 by Marconi in response to a military contract to develop an RAF radar system. The location at Bushy Hill on the outskirts of Woodham was selected for its suitability for equipment testing. By 1955, a Type 80 radar was installed and work had begun, which I first confused this radar for. Other similar testing work was carried out at the facility, and in 1959, the Marconi Company was awarded a Government contract to develop a passive detection system nicknamed 'Winkle'. By 1962, Marconi had got its Winkle out with the production of a High Speed Aerial which was to be the RX12874 radar, developed alongside work with a facility at Malvern, Worcestershire.
Bushy Hill then went on to develop other systems such as the S600 radar, and continued various work throughout the subsequent decades. Alenia Marconi Systems dissolved in 2005 leaving the later use of the facility shrouded in mystery (although as always probably less juicy than imaged). It remains in use to this day but is heavily secured, although it is strange for a former military contract site to be in such an unassuming state. I'd imagine private communications work goes on here although connections to the Government have likely long passed. Rumours about a bunker underneath radar hill have been circulated, although I have found no evidence to substantiate this.
The area in front of the main complex is where a disused helipad and the remains of the RX12874 can be found, with its antenna replaced with a modern tower on top of the gantry, as well as three other modern towers standing alone beside it. The modern ladder towers must have been installed for mounting some sort of lightweight radio equipment in the past 30 years. The gantry of the RX12874 still survives although has suffered from vandalism. Even in this state, it is an interesting piece of Cold War heritage given that it is assumedly the original first developed there.
A 1964 photograph kindly sent in showing the radar (far left) prior to the replacement of the antenna with the modern tower
What appears to be the original or a later antenna atop the gantry in a 1980 newspaper, before it was replaced with the tower
The First Climb - June 2020
This was another local site which somehow escaped my attention for some time. When I found where it was I thought it would be worth investigating. After a recce sometime before, we decided to climb the structure and check out the original gantry. The control building below was pretty stripped and heavily vandalised, although the gantry building ontop which housed what I can assume to have been the radar motor was still complete with some original equipment (still suffering from graffiti). I was shit scared but we did the climb, clinging on for dear life as my hands cramped up, but it wasn't so bad coming down. The hill provides for an amazing view over South Woodham Ferrers.
View from the top over the facility
First we should mention the history of the whole complex known locally as 'Radar Hill' before discussing the tower itself. It formed part of a complex known as Bushy Hill Research Station acquired in 1954 by Marconi in response to a military contract to develop an RAF radar system. The location at Bushy Hill on the outskirts of Woodham was selected for its suitability for equipment testing. By 1955, a Type 80 radar was installed and work had begun, which I first confused this radar for. Other similar testing work was carried out at the facility, and in 1959, the Marconi Company was awarded a Government contract to develop a passive detection system nicknamed 'Winkle'. By 1962, Marconi had got its Winkle out with the production of a High Speed Aerial which was to be the RX12874 radar, developed alongside work with a facility at Malvern, Worcestershire.
Bushy Hill then went on to develop other systems such as the S600 radar, and continued various work throughout the subsequent decades. Alenia Marconi Systems dissolved in 2005 leaving the later use of the facility shrouded in mystery (although as always probably less juicy than imaged). It remains in use to this day but is heavily secured, although it is strange for a former military contract site to be in such an unassuming state. I'd imagine private communications work goes on here although connections to the Government have likely long passed. Rumours about a bunker underneath radar hill have been circulated, although I have found no evidence to substantiate this.
The area in front of the main complex is where a disused helipad and the remains of the RX12874 can be found, with its antenna replaced with a modern tower on top of the gantry, as well as three other modern towers standing alone beside it. The modern ladder towers must have been installed for mounting some sort of lightweight radio equipment in the past 30 years. The gantry of the RX12874 still survives although has suffered from vandalism. Even in this state, it is an interesting piece of Cold War heritage given that it is assumedly the original first developed there.
A 1964 photograph kindly sent in showing the radar (far left) prior to the replacement of the antenna with the modern tower
What appears to be the original or a later antenna atop the gantry in a 1980 newspaper, before it was replaced with the tower
The First Climb - June 2020
This was another local site which somehow escaped my attention for some time. When I found where it was I thought it would be worth investigating. After a recce sometime before, we decided to climb the structure and check out the original gantry. The control building below was pretty stripped and heavily vandalised, although the gantry building ontop which housed what I can assume to have been the radar motor was still complete with some original equipment (still suffering from graffiti). I was shit scared but we did the climb, clinging on for dear life as my hands cramped up, but it wasn't so bad coming down. The hill provides for an amazing view over South Woodham Ferrers.
View from the top over the facility
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