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Coordinates: 54°11′11″N 000°26′04″W / 54.18639°N 0.43444°W / 54.18639; -0.43444
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==History==
==History==
The present-day site of RRH Staxton Wold has had an early warning function since the 3rd century AD, when it was the site of a warning beacon. It was first selected to be used as a radar station in 1937, when it was set up as part of the [[Chain Home]] system, being some {{convert|600|ft}} above sea level and only {{convert|4|mi}} inland of the [[Yorkshire Coast]]. Building work did not begin until December 1938 as delays in procuring the site occurred when the landowners resisted selling (this being before the Second World War, so the government found it harder to demand the land by force for the war effort).{{sfn|Dobinson|2010|pp=209–210}}
The present-day site of RRH Staxton Wold has had an early warning function since the 3rd century AD, when it was the site of a warning beacon. It was first selected to be used as a radar station in 1937, when it was set up as part of the [[Chain Home]] system, being some {{convert|600|ft}} above sea level and only {{convert|4|mi}} inland of the [[Yorkshire Coast]].{{sfn|Catford|2006|p=18}} Building work did not begin until December 1938 as delays in procuring the site occurred when the landowners resisted selling (this being before the Second World War, so the government found it harder to demand the land by force for the war effort).{{sfn|Dobinson|2010|pp=209–210}}


The site became fully operational in April 1939 and is the only one of the original stations still in use, and may thus claim to be the oldest continuously serving radar station.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Philpott |first1=Colin |title=Secret wartime Britain : hidden places that helped win the Second World War |date=2018 |publisher=Pen & Sword |location=Yorkshire |isbn=1526735474 |page=93}}</ref> Just before the outbreak of war (July 1939), the base was equipped with a [[Bofors 40 mm gun|Bofors]] anti-aircraft gun,{{sfn|Dobinson|2010|p=213}} and by December 1939, it was only one of two operational radar stations in Yorkshire (the other being [[RAF Danby Beacon|Danby Beacon]]).{{sfn|Dobinson|2010|p=252}}
The site became fully operational in April 1939 and is the only one of the original stations still in use, and may thus claim to be the oldest continuously serving radar station.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Philpott |first1=Colin |title=Secret wartime Britain : hidden places that helped win the Second World War |date=2018 |publisher=Pen & Sword |location=Yorkshire |isbn=1526735474 |page=93}}</ref> Just before the outbreak of war (July 1939), the base was equipped with a [[Bofors 40 mm gun|Bofors]] anti-aircraft gun,{{sfn|Dobinson|2010|p=213}} and by December 1939, it was only one of two operational radar stations in Yorkshire (the other being [[RAF Danby Beacon|Danby Beacon]]).{{sfn|Dobinson|2010|p=252}}

Revision as of 22:45, 31 December 2021

RRH Staxton Wold
Near Scarborough, North Yorkshire in England
RAF Staxton Wold
RAF Staxton Wold badge
Vigilamus et Defendimus
(Error: {{language with name/for}}: missing language tag or language name (help))[1]
RRH Staxton Wold is located in North Yorkshire
RRH Staxton Wold
RRH Staxton Wold
Shown within North Yorkshire
Coordinates54°11′11″N 000°26′04″W / 54.18639°N 0.43444°W / 54.18639; -0.43444
TypeRemote Radar Head
Area13 hectares (32 acres)[2]
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byNo. 1 Group (Air Combat)
ConditionOperational
Radar typeLockheed Martin AN/TPS-77 (Type 92) Air Defence Radar
Site history
Built1936 (1936)
In use1937 – present
Garrison information
OccupantsRadar Flight (South)

Remote Radar Head Staxton Wold or RRH Staxton Wold is an air defence radar station operated by the Royal Air Force, located near Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England.[3]

History

The present-day site of RRH Staxton Wold has had an early warning function since the 3rd century AD, when it was the site of a warning beacon. It was first selected to be used as a radar station in 1937, when it was set up as part of the Chain Home system, being some 600 feet (180 m) above sea level and only 4 miles (6.4 km) inland of the Yorkshire Coast.[4] Building work did not begin until December 1938 as delays in procuring the site occurred when the landowners resisted selling (this being before the Second World War, so the government found it harder to demand the land by force for the war effort).[5]

The site became fully operational in April 1939 and is the only one of the original stations still in use, and may thus claim to be the oldest continuously serving radar station.[6] Just before the outbreak of war (July 1939), the base was equipped with a Bofors anti-aircraft gun,[7] and by December 1939, it was only one of two operational radar stations in Yorkshire (the other being Danby Beacon).[8]

In the 1950s, with the threat of aerial bombardment on the station, the RAF installed service fire-fighters at the base, who would tackle fires until North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (NYF&RS) would arrive to assist. In the 1980s, the RAF fire-fighters were asked to attend local incidents in their area until the NYF&RS arrived to take control. However, by the early 21st century, the base was largely automated and the fire-fighters were removed from Staxton Wold.[9]

Today it is a Remote Radar Head (RRH) within the United Kingdom Air Surveillance and Control System (UKASACS).[10] The radar at Staxton Wold is a Lockheed Martin AN/TPS-77 radar which was due to be working by September 2013,[11] but only became fully operational in early 2015.[12] In September 2017, it was reported that the TPS-77 at Staxton Wold would be transferred to RRH Saxa Vord.[13]

As part of a major upgrade of RRH sites around the U.K. the MOD began a programme titled HYDRA in 2020 to install new state-of-the-art communications buildings, radar towers and bespoke perimeter security.[14][15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 252. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ "Defence Estates Development Plan 2009 – Annex A". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. p. 12. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Hidden gems open their doors for you". Scarborough News. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  4. ^ Catford 2006, p. 18.
  5. ^ Dobinson 2010, pp. 209–210.
  6. ^ Philpott, Colin (2018). Secret wartime Britain : hidden places that helped win the Second World War. Yorkshire: Pen & Sword. p. 93. ISBN 1526735474.
  7. ^ Dobinson 2010, p. 213.
  8. ^ Dobinson 2010, p. 252.
  9. ^ Shannon, Les (2003). Conflagrations : Scarborough's firefighting history. Scarborough: St. John's Pub. p. 239. ISBN 0954648307.
  10. ^ "RAF Boulmer". UKASACS. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Armed Forces". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  12. ^ "Winds of change bring threat of blight to coast". Yorkshire Post. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  13. ^ "UK RAF RADAR COVERAGE TO BE ENHANCED". Mönch Verlagsgesellschaft mbH. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Upgrading RAF Remote Radar Heads". 17 June 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Behind the scenes of Programme HYDRA". 23 June 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.

Sources

  • Catford, Nick (August 2006). "RAF Staxton Wold". Subterranea (11). Berkshire: Subterranea Britannica. ISSN 1741-8917.
  • Dobinson, Colin (2010). Building radar: forging Britain's early-warning chain, 1935-45. London: Methuen. ISBN 978-0-413-77229-9.
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