The Skelton Transmitting Station is a radio transmitter site at near Skelton, Cumbria, England, about 5 mi north-west of Penrith, run by Babcock International and owned by the Ministry of Defence. Shortwave broadcasts from this station ended on 30 March 2023, replaced by Woofferton. Another radio transmitting station in Cumbria is Anthorn Radio Station.

History

Construction

The site was built by J. L. Eve Construction during the Second World War, for long-distance short-wave transmissions, across Europe.

Transmissions

In 1946, the BBC was heralding the site as being "the World's largest and most powerful (shortwave) radio station". The main purpose of it was shortwave broadcasting. The site was capable of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) on at least 3955 kHz and 3975 kHz (75m broadcast band) beamed at 121° towards Germany and Central Europe. On AM the frequencies of 5995 kHz and 6195 kHz (49m broadcast band) and 9410 kHz (31m broadcast band) and 12095 kHz (25m broadcast band) were known. A Royal Navy very low frequency (VLF) transmitter is also located there. It is used to transmit encrypted orders to submarines, including the Trident SLBM fleet. It uses as its aerial a 365-metre (1,198 foot) high guyed steel lattice mast, which is insulated against ground and is the tallest structure in the UK. The transmitter went into service in 2001