Pivotal wireless radio station marks 125 years

A radio station that played a "pivotal role" in the history of wireless communication is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

The Lizard Wireless Station in Cornwall opened on 1 January 1901 and was able to communicate with ships up to 80 miles away, pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible at the time.

Later that same month the station received a wireless signal from St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight, proving for the first time radio waves could follow the curvature of the Earth.

The National Trust now cares for the cliff-top facility, operating it as an amateur radio station and its historic call sign will be active for the whole of January to mark the anniversary.

As well as being the birthplace of revolutionary types of long distance communication, Lizard Wireless Station also laid the groundworks for Guglielmo Marconi's famous transatlantic transmission from nearby Poldhu later in 1901.

The National Trust said it was a "remarkable" site that "played a pivotal role in the early history of wireless communication and helped change how the world connects".

Geoff Bate has voluntarily managed the stations amateur transmissions since 2017.

He said: "It's hard to describe what makes this place so special.

"It's the location, the history, and the people. I've always loved history, and here you can meet people, inspire them, and help them understand just how important this place is."

Mr Bate said people "don't always realise just how important" the site is.

"The Lizard Wireless Station played a key role in proving that wireless signals could travel over vast distances and even follow the curvature of the Earth.

"This was where wireless communication really began to prove itself," he said.

He said: "What happened here helped lay the foundations for the connected world we live in today."

To mark the anniversary, volunteer radio operators will be on air between 10:00 GMT and 16:00 on the following dates: Thursday 1, Friday 2 and Saturday 3 January, Friday 9 and Saturday 10 January, Monday 12, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 January, Monday 19, Thursday 22 and Friday 23 January, Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 January.

The museum will also be open to visitors on these dates, if the weather allows at the exposed site.

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