I always knew this day was coming, but somehow, I wasn’t quite prepared for how it would make me feel.
On Saturday 27th June 2026, Long Wave radio signals will cease transmission from the Wychbold transmitting station, bringing to an end a remarkable chapter in both broadcasting history and Droitwich’s story.
Droitwich has always been a town shaped by industry. For centuries, its connection with salt defined its identity and prosperity. Yet for the last 92 years, another landmark has stood watch over our town, the iconic masts at Wychbold. Towering above the Worcestershire countryside, they have become more than just engineering structures. For many travelling home along the M5, they are a familiar sight and an unmistakable signal that you are nearly home.
But these masts did far more than guide weary travellers.
Completed in 1934, the Droitwich transmitting station was an extraordinary achievement of its time. The construction itself was no small feat. The riggers who built the towering masts reportedly even went on strike demanding danger money once they had climbed to dizzying heights. When the station finally became operational, it transformed communication across Britain. For the first time, the BBC Home Service could be transmitted across the whole of the United Kingdom.
Today, in an age of smartphones and instant communication, it is difficult to imagine what an achievement this was. In the 1930s, communication largely relied on handwritten letters and waiting for the post to arrive. Yet suddenly, families across the nation could gather around their wireless sets and share the same news, music, and voices at exactly the same moment.
The transmitting station would go on to play an important role during some of the darkest periods in modern history. It survived the second world war and was used to send encoded messages to Allied forces in Europe during wartime operations.
As technology evolved, so too did the station’s role. During the 1970s, the site began broadcasting BBC Radio 4 and TalkSport on Long Wave, becoming a constant companion to millions of listeners across the country.
The Long Wave transmitter also quietly powered something many people never realised depended upon it: the Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS). This system communicated with electricity meters, signalling when Economy 7 users should switch to lower overnight tariffs, an invisible but essential service used in homes nationwide.
The story of Droitwich transmitting station has long been preserved through the dedication of local historians and volunteers. In 1990, the “Droitwich Calling” exhibition opened at Droitwich Spa Heritage Centre. Much of the equipment on display today was saved thanks to the late John Phillips, whose passion ensured that this important piece of broadcasting history would not be lost.
I was fortunate enough to work closely with John during the early 2010s, when together we curated a temporary exhibition celebrating 80 years of the Droitwich transmitting station. In recognition of the incredible work he carried out to preserve both the artefacts and the stories connected with the site, his book, Droitwich Calling, has now been specially printed and bound to mark this occasion. Copies are available to purchase from the gift shop at the Heritage Centre.
To mark the end of Long Wave broadcasting from Wychbold, a short ceremony will take place at Droitwich Spa Heritage Centre on 27th June 2026 at 12 noon within the “Droitwich Calling” exhibition. In addition, a special talk on the history of the Droitwich transmitting station by Alastair Moseley will take place at 3pm on Saturday 27th June. The talk is free to attend, although spaces are limited, so advance booking is recommended. To reserve a place, please email heritage@droitwichspa.gov.uk or telephone 01905 774312.
For nearly a century, the masts at Wychbold have carried voices, music, news, and history across the nation. Soon, the signal will finally fall silent, but their story, and the memories connected to them, will continue to resonate for generations to come.
Further Information can be found:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66644709
http://frequencyfinder.org.uk/History_Transmission.pdf