ILR - A Place In History - Independent Local Radio

ILR - A PLACE IN HISTORY

In 1983 the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) noted that "ILR stations around the country had made imaginative use of a variety of buildings, many of which were of historical interest."

DEVON AIR: Devon Air initially opened from studios at 35/37 St David's Hill Exeter serving Exeter and the surrounding area on 450 meters (666kHz) medium wave together with 95.8 VHF on 7th November 1980. However Devon Air was to operate a dual transmission area additionally providing separate programmes to the Torbay area. The Torbay transmitters went on air on 12th December 1980 on 314 meters (954 kHz) medium wave and 95.1 VHF, with Devon Air's Torbay studios housed in a striking classical building overlooking Torquay Harbour. Originally a hotel, the building was used during the Second World War for RAF training.

SEVERN SOUND: References to The Old Talbot in Gloucester date back as far as 1455 when is was known as a pub called the St. George. The pub'c colouful history has included cock-fighting and Druid gatherings. Severn Sound took over the building in 1980 and retained the building's attractive exterior, woodwork and engravings. Severn Sound launched its local radio service for Cheltenham and Gloucester on 23rd October 1980 on 388 meters (774 kHz) medium wave and 95.0 VHF.

Devon Air's studios in Torquay	Severn Sound's studios
CHILTERN RADIO: Chiltern Radio opened on the 15th October 1981 from studios located in a Victorian school on Chiltern Road in Dunstable. Chiltern Radio initially opened in the Luton and Dunstable area of Hertfordshire on 362 meters (828 kHz) medium wave and 97.6 VHF. The station, however, would eventually embrace a dual transmission area station and on 1st March 1982 opened a second pair of transmitters for Bedford and Bedfordshire on 378 meters (792 kHz) medium wave and 95.5 VHF. Bedfordshire studios were located at Goldington Road in Bedford.
Chiltern Radio's studios at an old Victorian school in Dunstable
PLYMOUTH SOUND: Plymouth Sound's studios were located at Earl's Acre, Alma Road in Plymouth, in premises were originally an organ factory which can be seen in the photgraphs below before and after conversion. Plymouth Sound imaginatively shares its name with the body of water south of Plymouth, known as 'The Sound', into which the local rivers, including the River Tamar flow. A good name for a radio station that is broadcasting the 'sound' of their local area and also since radio is often referred to as 'sound broadcasting'! A number of other ILR stations used the somewhat hip "Sound" tag in their station names too; Mercia Sound, West Sound, Southern Sound, Severn Sound, NorthSound, Marcher Sound, Invicta Sound and Leicester Sound. Even the BBC has used the idea for some of their stations, e.g. Somerset Sound and Wiltshire Sound. Plymouth Sound went on air on 14th October 1975 on 261 meters (1151 kHz) medium wave and 96.0 VHF.
Plymouth Sound's studios shown before and after conversion in 1975
RADIO AIRE: Radio Aire, named after the local River Aire, went on air on 1st September 1981 on 362 meters (828 kHz) medium wave and 94.6 VHF (the old BBC Radio Leeds frequency). Radio Aire made ILR history in that it constructed the first purpose built studio centre which was conveniently located adjacent to Yorkshire Television's Leeds studios. This heavy investment in property proved somewhat of a financial incumberance on the little ILR station in the early years, though the exterior and the studios were made famous by weekly visits by Yorkshire Television to broadcast the late night James Whale Radio Show to ITV Network Television in the mid-1980's. RED ROSE RADIO: Red Rose Radio was the brainchild of local property magnate Owen J Oyston. Mr Oyston put together a strong team for his radio station, including Managing Director, David Maker, who was to prove a radio mogul and savior in later years, Head Of News and Current Affairs, Julian Allitt, and Russell Harty who was on the Board. Red Rose Radio launched on 5th October 1982 on 301 meters (999 kHz) medium wave and 97.3 VHF. Among other things the station became well known for its popular late night phone-in host Allan Beswick. Red Rose Radio was housed in St Paul's Church, St Paul's Square, Preston. The photo below shows the vaults and arches during conversion into the radio studios.
Radio Aire - Leeds	Red Rose Radio - Preston
SAXON RADIO: Saxon Radio launched on 6th November 1982 on 240 meters (1242 kHz) medium wave and 96.3 VHF. Saxon Radio was unusual in the early development of ILR in that it was not a truly stand-alone and independent ILR station. Possibly because the IBA believed that a small town in a rural area could not support its own completely independent radio service, the ILR franchise for Busry St Edmunds was operated in close association with the neighbouring existing station, Radio Orwell, in Ipswich which went on air in 1975 and partially overlapped the Saxon Radio transmission area. Saxon Radio would make many of its own prgrammes, but during off-peak hours Radio Orwell supplied the programmes to the Saxon Radio area. Saxon Radio's studios were to be located at Long Brackland in Bury St Edmunds, in a building that had an attractive Victorian facade that can be seen in the drawing on the right.	Saxon Radio - Bury St Edmunds
RADIO TRENT: Radio Trent launched, in the first wave of ILR development, to an eager Nottingham audience on 3rd July 1975 on 301 meters (999 kHz) medium wave and 96.2 VHF. Radio Trent's premises were at 20/31 Castle Gate in the heart of Nottingham and were built as houses for the local gentry. At the turn of the century the building was used as a women's hospital, and the basement, which housed the radio studios was once a mortuary!
Radio Trent's Studios in Castle Gate - Nottingham
There must be many other local radio stations that have 'A Place In History'. Mercia Sound in Coventry was located a building once used as a working mens club in Hertford Place. BRMB Radio in Birmingham was initially located at a building once used by ATV Television on Aston Road North, opposite the famous HP Sauce factory. Lantern Radio in North Devon was located in a lovely old building called The Light House in The Market Square Bideford. Maybe YOU know of an interesting building or fascinating story about a local radio station, perhaps even YOUR local station, from years gone by, if so do let us know via our CONTACT page. Thanks.

Back To - AIRWAVES RADIO, STATIONS & MEMORABILIA