Borough Hill is a hill to the east of the town of Daventry in the English county of Northamptonshire. It is over 200 metres (660 ft) above sea level and dominates the surrounding area.
Borough Hill has a history of human habitation dating into prehistory. Remains have been found on the hill of two Bronze Agebarrows, two Iron Agehillforts, one of which is the fourth largest found in Britain, and a later Roman villa and farming settlement.[1] The hill is designated as a scheduled monument.[2]
In 1823, the historian and archaeologist George Baker undertook the first excavation of the site, he discovered the remains of the Roman villa. The site then underwent a full excavation in 1852 by local historian Beriah Botfield who recorded his findings. His notes, manuscripts and some of the antiquities found are now kept at the British Museum.[3]
In 1925 the BBC constructed a transmitting station which initially was used for long wave, and short wave broadcasting.
The long wave service was moved to a new and better transmitter station located at Wychbold village near Droitwich in 1934.
In 1950 the BBC constructed a 720 ft (220 m) mast at nearby Dodford for the BBC Third Programme, with a 150 kW transmitter in a building near to the short wave transmitter building. This service closed in 1978 and the mast was removed in 1984.
Due to the nature of short wave broadcasting, large areas of Borough Hill were occupied with towers, and masts to support large
antennas. Transmissions from the short wave station could be received across the world.
Many engineers were employed by the BBC to work at the station and a number decided to settle in Daventry, and to this
day many former BBC staff remain in Daventry.
The BBC decided to close the station and on 28 March 1992 the last transmission took place, and the transmission equipment was moved to other BBC World Service transmitters around the country. The station became an electronic service centre for the repair of BBC transmission equipment, and a local transmitter maintenance team was also based here until the late 1990s. All but one of the radio masts have been taken down, with Arqiva now operating the single remaining mast.[3]
