History
Rowridge was included in the first phase of BBC2 transmitter sites, entering service in January 1966. It seems the original intention would have been for a vision circuit to be provided in the new London - Southampton SHF route, however delays with the site at Bagshot led to an interim arrangement being required. The original Isle of Wight television link from London via Golden Pot was presumably unsuitable for the 625-line standard.From the available information we believe the temporary link used the southern part of the new route, from Butser Hill to Rowridege, with a 2 GHz link from London to Stokenchurch (avoiding Bagshot). At Golden Pot a temporary mast was erected to allow linking between Stokenchurch and Butser Hill. These assumptions are based largely on images of Butser Hill and Golden Pot which show the temporary arrangements in place.
The eventual completion of Bagshot allowed the permanent links to be commissioned for BBC1 and ITV UHF transmissions which entered service in December 1969 and it is assumed the temporary arrangements for BBC2 had ceased by then.