BBC Rampisham Down

Rampisham Down was a major BBC World Service shortwave transmission station and home to a vast array of antennae and masts. Its location, between Dorchester and Crewkerne, was chosen for its remoteness and suitability for radio transmissions with little interference. The station supported services in multiple languages including English, Russian and Arabic.

BBC Rampisham Down was established in 1939 just before World War II and during the war’s early years it was subject to several attacks from the German Air Force. Transmission halls on the 189 acre site were separated by heavy blast walls.

The facility played a key role in international broadcasting for several decades and represented an alien landmark on a rural landscape. During the Cold War, Rampisham provided broadcasts to countries where access to news and information was restricted. Transmissions in Russian were regularly jammed by the Soviet authorities. During the severe winter of 1963, heavy snow falls caused Rampisham to be off-air in January and February on several occasions. Relief shifts were unable to arrive because of roads filled hedge to hedge with 10 ft. snow drifts. By 1981, Rampisham was serving audiences in North and South America, Southern and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. That year, the site transmitted 59,700 hours of broadcasting. Full world coverage was possible from the site. Programmes going out originated from Bush House in London.

Advances in satellite broadcasting reduced its need and the site closed in 2011. Final broadcast took place from Rampisham Down on Saturday 29th October 2011. Last BBC transmission was in Arabic to listeners in North Africa. The site is some 14 miles from Dorchester and lies within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In September 2020 a base jumper, that is someone in the recreational sport of jumping from fixed objects, got stuck on a transmitter and had to be helped down by representatives of the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service.

(Image credit: mb21 UK Broadcast Transmission.)

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