Mid 20th century research station, 'Marconi Research Station', Bushy Hill (EHER 15930)

A mid 20th century radar test site, acquired by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company in 1954. The site remains in operation

Bushy Hill Research Station (TQ 813 986), was acquired about 1954 by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company in response to a contract to develop an L band (23 cm wavelength) radar with a clutter rejection system for the RAF. This was after their original site at Bedell's End, near Chelmsford, proved to be in such a good topographic position that it did not allow the equipment to be thoroughly tested. By 1955, the installation of a Type 80 radar and turning gear had commenced. Other work at this time undertaken at Bushy Hill included the development of a moving target indicator. In 1959, the Marconi Company was awarded a government development contract for a passive detection system known as Winkle and in conjunction with the government establishment at Malvern, Worcestershire, had produced an operational system by the end of 1962. The principal ground equipment installed at Bushy Hill for this work was a high speed receiving aerial. In the mid- 1960s, Bushy Hill became the main demonstration site for Marconi's S600 series radar, a modular system which could be fitted together to meet a client's needs (Gough 1993, 125-6, 168, 194, 253-4). Bushy Hill research Station is sited in a prominent position on of the east to west northern escarpment of the River Crouch, to the north of South Woodham Ferrers. It is approached from the north along a single track concrete road. The principal features of the site comprise two single storey buildings, four steel lattice radio masts, steel framed radar gantries, a tubular steel radar mast, and a number of timber huts and portacabins. The site remains in use a radar research station. <1> NRHE data transfer: Bushy Hill a radar Research station, was acquired about 1954 when Marconi's required a site to develop L-band (23cm wavelength) radar for the RAF incorporating a clutter rejection system, after the existing site at Bedell's End (TL 60 NE 54) proved to be too good topographically to test the equipment. By 1955 the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company had also received a government development contract for a passive detection system known as Winkle and in conjunction with the government establishment at Malvern, Worcestershire, had developed an operational system by the end of 1962. The principal ground equipment at Bushy Hill for this work was a high speed receiving aerial. In the mid-1960s Bushy Hill became the main demonstration site for Marconi's S600 series radar, a modular system which could be fitted together to meet a client's needs. The site is approached from the north along a concrete road. The principal features of the site comprise two single storey buildings, four steel lattice radio masts, two steel framed radar gantries, a tubular steel radar mast and a number of temporary timber huts and portacabins. The site remains in use as a radar research Station. <2> <3> See also <4>.