to mark the
closing of the
UK Coast
Radio Stations
Beginnings/Endings
From beginnings to the end |
| On 7th December 1897 Marconi commenced experiments into Wireless from the Needles Hotel on the Isle of Wight, England. On 3rd January 1898 a second shore station was established, at Bournemouth on the English south coast, with which the Needles station could communicate. Lord Kelvin visited the Needles station on 3rd June 1898 during which he became the first person to send a paid radio-telegram message. By the end of 1901 Marconi had established coast wireless stations in England on the Isle of Wight and at the Lizard, North Foreland, Caister and Withernsea; in Wales at Holyhead; and in Ireland at Crookhaven and Rosslare. | St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight |
In 1908 the Britiish General Post Office formed its Wireless Telegraphy Section and opened its first coast wireless station at Bolt Head (half way between Marconi's Isle of Wight and Lizard stations!). Following negotiations, the GPO's WTS then took over Marconi's stations in 1909. Later stations were also taken over from Lloyds and the British Admiralty.
Today, the coast stations are owned and operated by British Telecommunication's Aeronautical and Maritime section. On 1st January 1998, just 100 years on from Marconi's beginnings, the final 500kHz Morse Code were heard from UK Coast Radio stations. Closure of the entire UK Coasts Station commercial service is imminent - BT has annouced that it wishes to discuss closing the UK Coast Radio Station commercial services by, or in stages from, the end of June 1999.