A whisper of history. That’s what the Chesterton Fen radio mast offers. Standing tall it silently broadcasts tales of the airwaves.
The Chesterton Fen radio mast isn’t just a tall structure. It’s a testament to decades of broadcasting history in Cambridge. It first transmitted Radio 3 in 1978 on 1197 kHz. Radio Cambridgeshire joined the airwaves in 1982 using 1026 kHz.
Imagine the voices that once filled the ether from this very spot. Think of the announcers reading the news. Picture the DJs spinning records. The mast witnessed the rise and fall of stations. Radio 3’s signal faded in 1992. Virgin Radio took its place on the same frequency in 1993.
But the Chesterton Fen radio mast is more than just a transmitter. It also housed a satellite dish. This dish fed programs to the station. It ensured a constant stream of music and news for listeners. It also boasted a band II Yagi antenna. This antenna pointed towards Madingley for Radio Cambridgeshire.
The mast stood near the Cambridge North station. This proximity offered convenience. It also gave the mast a prominent place in the city’s landscape.
It’s easy to overlook this silent sentinel. Yet the Chesterton Fen radio mast whispers stories of a bygone era. It’s a quiet monument to broadcasting in Cambridge. A reminder that even in silence powerful narratives reside.