The Archers

Discussion in 'The Lounge Bar' started by Uncle Target, Jun 13, 2021.

  1. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    I am extremely impressed with the depth of knowledge on this site and in particular that of our trans Atlantic cousins the Canadians, although the Americans can also demonstrate a sense of humour too regarding WW2.
    I am frequently finding postings referring to the Archers. For me they bring back memories.
    A relative was a sound man on this national treasure for years, making sounds of garden gates and horses walking down roads.
    He began and ended a lifetime career at Wood Norton with many other experiences in between.
    Now I am aware that this story began in WW2 in an attempt to further educate our British farming community but has grown into a huge following:
    The Archers - Wikipedia


    A bit of research re Wood Norton might raise a few eyebrows on the forum if members have time.



     
  2. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Where on earth did that Radio come from? its like playing Mary Poppins on speed. Much too fast more like the pace of life in London than the country.
    I Associate the Archers with The Bulls Head at Inkberrow in Worcesreshire
    Inkberrow - Wikipedia
    Where I spent time touring the local pubs in my youth.

    I will leave it to others to take a look at Wood Norton Hall in WW2 and after, together with a preponderance of military activity in the area surrounding it, much of which was top secret.
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2021
  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    da de dah dah dah dah de dah


    Wood Norton Hall in Worcestershire dates back to medieval times. Its past owners included Edward Holland (the local liberal MP), the Duc D'Aumale (of the Bourbon-Orleans family, fugitives of the French Revolution), and at one time the King of England.

    In 1939, with war just months away, the BBC bought the site so that it could relocate its operations away from London and the other urban centres in the event of hostilities. A number of temporary buildings were quickly erected around the historic house to provide an emergency broadcasting centre.

    A dozen studios were built, and by 1940 Wood Norton was one of the largest broadcasting centres in Europe with an average output of 1,300 programmes a week. For a while it was also a monitoring station. Linguists, many of them foreign nationals, were hired to listen in to broadcasts from Europe.

    When the war was over, Wood Norton became the BBC's engineering training centre. Purpose-built facilities in the grounds are still used for technical training, through the house itself has since been sold.
    https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/buildings/wood-norton
     
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  4. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    In the locality were a number of military locations : Long Marston Airfield & RE Camp, Long Lartin POW Camp, Honeybourne Airfield, RAF Maintenance Unit 25 covering Elmley Lovett, Rushock and Hartlebury. Secret Bunkers in tunnels at Wolverly near Kidderminster, RAF Defford, RAF Pershore, Elementary Flying School Perdiswell. Halfpenny Green and Pirton.
    TRE Malvern, Earls Croome CAEE unit, BBC Droitwich, Honeybourne Camp (American Medical Supply Sub Depot).
    Wood Norton (PAWN) post war.
    An interesting little book: Wartime Worcestershire by Jeff Carpenter (Brewin Books).
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2021

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