Site Records

SiteName: North Weald - Ongar Radio Transmitting Station

North Weald Bassett
Essex
OS Grid Ref: TL506040

Sub Brit site visit August 1996

In 1971 Ongar Radio was refitted with transmitting equipment costing £1M. A total of 23 new self tuning high frequency radio transmitters made Ongar one of the most up-to-date radio stations of its kind in the world transmitting telephone, telegraph and facsimile services to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia from the new rhombic aerials which replaceded the now outdated beam arrays. Its new status was however short lived.

After 1971 the national high frequency rationalisation scheme then being implemented concentrated the maritime telegraph service at Rugby and Ongar and this eventually became Ongar's main function. As Ongar was refitted the station at Slip End near Baldock closed with its traffic being passed to Post Office radio stations at Bearley in Warwickshire and Somerton in Somerset. Due to the spread of satellite, cable and fibre optic communications the existing stations were gradually closed over the next 20 years. The buildings at Ongar were put to other uses; one building on the main site being used as a BT engine generator test centre while some of the more distant buildings were put to farm use.

North Weald Station in 1962 - The Ongar Radio masts can be seen in the background

Source: Post Office Engineering Journal

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