First Reception of TV in Dore in 1938

The BBC started transmission of television programmes from Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) in 1936. In the same year the J G Graves wireless department in Sheffield started experimenting.

Picture Sheffield Reference s12672

After deciding somewhere away from electrical interference was needed J G Graves set up an experimental station on Newfield Lane in Dore away from trams and roads.

As shown in this photograph from Picture Sheffield (reference s12671) the Radio equipment and TV Experimentation Masts and Station were installed.

Two masts of nearly eighty feet in height were constructed in the field next to the house on Newfield Lane.

In this, unfortunately rather poor photograph (Picture Sheffield reference s12670), the aerial atop one of the completed masts can be seen.

The shed contained over one thousand pounds-worth of equipment including shortwave transmitters and ultra shortwave receivers.

The First Television Programmes in the North

In 1938 a reporter from the Daily Independent was shown around the site by George William Bagshaw, chief engineer and manager of the wireless department of J G Graves radio factory. In the war George Bagshaw had served in France in the Wireless Section of the Royal Engineers. He was one of the best-known wireless engineers of the day.

A report of the visit appeared in the newspaper on the 1st of September. The Dore station had been receiving almost perfect pictures for the previous few days but on the day the reporter visited it was unfortunately thundery and the conditions were not suitable for television transmission.

Mr Bagshaw was assisted by Mr K Hopkinson of Crosspool and Mr G Thompson, both of whom were radio enthusiasts employed at J G Graves.

The reporter was told that they are only able to receive broadcasts from London, which is 150 miles away, using expensive specialised equipment. He thought it was unlikely that Sheffield would get a transmitter due to the cost.

George Bagshaw attended many meetings and gave speeches and interviews urging the public to apply pressure to provide television services to Sheffield.

However, war intervened. The BBC's television service was shut down on 1st September 1939, because it was said that the signal transmitted from Alexandra Palace might be an aid to enemy aircraft. While it was not being used for television services, the Alexandra Palace mast was used to jam Luftwaffe navigation signals during the Blitz.

Sheffield Radio Experts Prepare for War

Mr Bagshaw, who lived on Baslow Road, Totley Rise, was not only focused on the television experiments but also on the prospect of war.

Since 1936 he had been training ten radio experts to provide national defence in an emergency. They had radio receivers and short wave transmitters to provide help to the public in case of a war attack. Bagshaw planned to offer their services to the Air Minister for the RAF Civilian Wireless Service.

Shortwave Experiments

By April 1939 George Bagshaw had already carried out experiments with shortwave radio transmission to be used for communication if the telephone was put out of action. Sheffield had a radio society of 24 members and 40 transmitters.

The Special Constabulary

Bagshaw was appointed Sub-Commandant of the Radio Division of the 'Specials'. Ex-Regulars, who had served with any of the Services and who had radio experience, as well as radio amateurs were recruited to the section. Cars were equipped with radios to be used in the blackout.

TV Transmission Resumes

Television transmission resumed on 7 June 1946. It was 1951 before Sheffield received TV from the Holm Moss transmitter.