History
Wotton-under-Edge is shown on the 1959 Network map with "programmed" routes towards Stokenchurch (via "Swindon" (Sparsholt Firs)), "Bristol" (Purdown) and "Corsham" (Five Ways) and a "planned" route to Birmingham. In practice planning approval was not obtained until September 1963. When the Birmingham to Bristol route was upgraded in the mid-1980s it evidently linked directly betweeen Cinderford and Purdown so it is possible only three sites were linked to Wotton-under-Edge.
The 1949 experimental television link from London to Castleton (originally at 195 MHz) used a pair of sites at Wotton-under-Edge, the receive site was close to the 1960s SHF site, with the transmit antenna around 500 m to the south west. By 1952 a 4 GHz experimental link had been introduced over some sections, including Hook (near Wootton Basset) to Wotton-under-Edge. A further experimental link to Castleton was in operation by 1957, to allow long-term tests of a 4 GHz link carrying 960 telephony channels. This used 10 ft diameter antennas with the centre only 12 ft above ground, mounted on poles. The accommodation at Wotton-under-Edge was "an Army type hut".
The permanent station used a concrete tower of the "Chilterns" design - as used at Stokenchurch and elsewhere - of a relatively low height. Initially it appears pairs of horns were used facing Purdown and Sparsholt Firs with a single horn facing Five Ways. Photos from 1970 show a small number of dishes also facing the three other sites.
The tower at Five Ways was truncated in the late 1980s although it is possible a link to Wotton-under-Edge was still available at that point, however by 2006 it appears only the main route from London to Bristol was operational, with dishes facing Sparsholt Firs and Purdown only. The large dishes had been cleared by 2010.
