Emley Moor Mast
Emley Moor transmitting station is a telecommunications and broadcasting facility on Emley Moor, 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Emley, in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. The station's most visible feature is its 1,084 feet (330 m) tall concrete tower, which is a Grade II listed building. It is the tallest freestanding structure in the United Kingdom, the 7th tallest freestanding structure in the European Union, and the 4th tallest tower in the European Union. It currently stands as being the 25th tallest tower in the world. The tower's official name "Arqiva Tower" is shown on a sign beside the offices at the base of the structure but it is commonly known as "Emley Moor mast".
The tower is the third antenna support structure to have occupied the site. The original 135-metre (443 ft) lattice tower was erected in 1956 to provide Independent Television broadcasts to the Yorkshire area. It entered service on 3 November 1956, transmitting Granada TV programmes on weekdays and ABC TV programmes at weekends. It was replaced by a taller 385.5-metre (1,265 ft) guyed mast, identical to the structure at Belmont transmitting station in Lincolnshire in 1964. On 19 March 1969, a combination of strong winds and the weight of ice that had formed around the top of the mast and on the guy wires brought the structure down.
The accumulation of ice was believed to have caused the collapse, but a committee of inquiry attributed it to a form of oscillation which occurred at a low but steady wind speed. Modifications including hanging 150 tons of steel chains within each structure were made to similar masts at Belmont and Winter Hill. None of the modified masts have collapsed. A section of the collapsed tower was converted for use as a racing control tower at Huddersfield Sailing Club.
After the temporary masts, erection of the current concrete tower began in 1969. UHF (625-line colour) transmissions commenced on 21 January 1971 and the older VHF (405-line black & white) system became operational on 21 April 1971. Local residents did not wish to see another mast on Emley Moor, and a departure from usual designs was called for. The new structure consists of a curved pillar, 275 metres tall, constructed of reinforced concrete, topped by a 55 metre steel lattice mast which carries the antennae.
The structure is a tapered, reinforced concrete tower. It is the tallest freestanding structure in the United Kingdom at a height of 1,084 feet (330 m). Reaching the tower room at the top of the concrete stucture at 900 feet (274 m) involves a seven-minute journey by lift. The antenna structure above it is a further 184 feet (56 m) tall. the mast's foundations penetrate 20 feet (6 m) into the ground and the whole structure, including foundations, weighs 11,200 tonnes. The tower was designed by Arup. When built, it was the third-tallest freestanding structure in Europe, after the Ostankino Tower at 1,772 feet (540 m) and the Fernsehturm Berlin (current height 1,207 feet (368 m)). The top of the tower is 1,949 feet (594 m) above sea level due to the site's elevated position on the eastern edge of the Pennines. The tower is not open to the public. There is an observation area off the main road that runs past it.
In 2002, English Heritage granted the tower Grade II listed building status for its 'significant architectural or historic interest'
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emley_Moor_transmitting_station
Emley Moor Mast
Emley Moor transmitting station is a telecommunications and broadcasting facility on Emley Moor, 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Emley, in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. The station's most visible feature is its 1,084 feet (330 m) tall concrete tower, which is a Grade II listed building. It is the tallest freestanding structure in the United Kingdom, the 7th tallest freestanding structure in the European Union, and the 4th tallest tower in the European Union. It currently stands as being the 25th tallest tower in the world. The tower's official name "Arqiva Tower" is shown on a sign beside the offices at the base of the structure but it is commonly known as "Emley Moor mast".
The tower is the third antenna support structure to have occupied the site. The original 135-metre (443 ft) lattice tower was erected in 1956 to provide Independent Television broadcasts to the Yorkshire area. It entered service on 3 November 1956, transmitting Granada TV programmes on weekdays and ABC TV programmes at weekends. It was replaced by a taller 385.5-metre (1,265 ft) guyed mast, identical to the structure at Belmont transmitting station in Lincolnshire in 1964. On 19 March 1969, a combination of strong winds and the weight of ice that had formed around the top of the mast and on the guy wires brought the structure down.
The accumulation of ice was believed to have caused the collapse, but a committee of inquiry attributed it to a form of oscillation which occurred at a low but steady wind speed. Modifications including hanging 150 tons of steel chains within each structure were made to similar masts at Belmont and Winter Hill. None of the modified masts have collapsed. A section of the collapsed tower was converted for use as a racing control tower at Huddersfield Sailing Club.
After the temporary masts, erection of the current concrete tower began in 1969. UHF (625-line colour) transmissions commenced on 21 January 1971 and the older VHF (405-line black & white) system became operational on 21 April 1971. Local residents did not wish to see another mast on Emley Moor, and a departure from usual designs was called for. The new structure consists of a curved pillar, 275 metres tall, constructed of reinforced concrete, topped by a 55 metre steel lattice mast which carries the antennae.
The structure is a tapered, reinforced concrete tower. It is the tallest freestanding structure in the United Kingdom at a height of 1,084 feet (330 m). Reaching the tower room at the top of the concrete stucture at 900 feet (274 m) involves a seven-minute journey by lift. The antenna structure above it is a further 184 feet (56 m) tall. the mast's foundations penetrate 20 feet (6 m) into the ground and the whole structure, including foundations, weighs 11,200 tonnes. The tower was designed by Arup. When built, it was the third-tallest freestanding structure in Europe, after the Ostankino Tower at 1,772 feet (540 m) and the Fernsehturm Berlin (current height 1,207 feet (368 m)). The top of the tower is 1,949 feet (594 m) above sea level due to the site's elevated position on the eastern edge of the Pennines. The tower is not open to the public. There is an observation area off the main road that runs past it.
In 2002, English Heritage granted the tower Grade II listed building status for its 'significant architectural or historic interest'
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emley_Moor_transmitting_station