Post Office Microwave Tower

From Object Wiki

London Post Office Microwave Tower

Manufacturer	(Unknown)
Production years	1965
Production location	(unknown)

The Post Office Tower was a symbol of London in the Swinging Sixties. But it was also part of a microwave communications system for use in a nuclear war. The microwave network replaced expensive and vulnerable land lines between cities.

The tower, originally known as the Post Office Tower or GPO (General Post Office) Tower, was opened to the public on 19 May 1966 by Tony Benn (the Postmaster General) and Billy Butlin. After a bomb exploded in the building in 1971, the tower was closed to the public. It is currently owned by British Telecom and has been renamed the Telecom Tower. The concrete and glass structure is 175 metres high, and with the aerial the total height is 188 metres.

1 How it works
2 Memories
3 In the Science Museum
4 Gallery

[edit] How it works

Microwave radio signals can carry large amounts of data reliably through the air; they have a relatively high bandwidth. Many telephone conversations can be carried over the link and they were not liable to be broken in case of war – unless the tower was destroyed.

[edit] Memories

I remember the GPO Tower well. I worked for Post Office Telephones and just before it opened to the public we employees were invited to come and visit it. We had to pay 1 shilling each “to test the speed at which they could take the entrance fees”, so we were told. I remember the lifts were very fast and the amazing views. I went again later and was in London the morning after the bombing. We had to dodge the debris in Gower Street.

— John Truine

Do you remember the Post Office Microwave Tower? Add your memories.

[edit] In the Science Museum

The Museum acquired this model of aerial galleries of London Post Office microwave tower in 1981 from the British Telecom Museum. The model is dated to c.1965. Inv. No: 1981-927.