Martin Fenton – Page 3 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Studio 1 – Martin Fenton

Studio 1 control room

Studio 1 light

Studio 1 Neumann U47s

Photos by Martin Fenton, no reproduction without permission. Martin took these photos in 2003. Radio Studio 1 was the largest radio studio at Pebble Mill, and was also used for some television series in the latter years of Pebble Mill.

“Studio 1 was once a venue for glorious orchestral recordings, but by this point it had been deliberately priced out of the market (Abbey Road number 1 was cheaper) and was used for little more than Farming Today

The Neumann U47s , I was told were used at the insistence of Radio 3, when Studio 1 was regularly used for orchestral concerts.” [The mics may be Neumann U87s, see comment below from Andy Groves.]

Martin Fenton

(The Neumann U47s were condenser mics apparently well known for their clear sound. They were apparently the favourite mic of the Beatles manager, George Martin.)

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Caroline Feldon Parsons: ‘Lots of happy memories doing programmes for Radio 3 in that studio. Everything from live Lunchtime Concerts to live drivetime programmes like In Tune, and lots of recorded chamber music. I did a fair bit of page-turning for pianists too!’

Chris Marshall: ‘Yes, it was really busy with Radio 3 programmes until the bizarre decisions around Producer Choice and bimedia put paid to that. Tony Wass could give lots of info on the technical stuff.’

Jane Ward: ‘Occasionally larger scale orchestral and brass band sessions for Radio 2 took place in there as well. I produced a fair number and, like Caroline, was involved in other ways before that, either page turning or acting as orchestral librarian before I became a producer… I arrived at Pebble Mill in February 1987 as the Music Assistant, a post which not only served Radios 2 & 3 but which ultimately extended to become a research and support service for the whole building.’

Andy Groves: ‘I think you will find the mics are a Neumann U87 rather than 47. Both fine microphones.’

Peter Trevena: ‘I think that the lamp is still working on Doctors‘

Studio 5 Control Room

Studio 5 control room, BBC Model B. Photo from Martin Fenton, no reproduction without permission

Radio Studio 5 was used by Network Radio shows, including Edwina Currie and Stuart Maconie. These photos are of the control room, and were taken by Martin Fenton in 2003.

“This BBC Model B was still being used as a call-queuing system until it went up in a puff of blue smoke in March 2003.”

Martin Fenton

Control room turntable

Control room with shortcuts

Studio 5 tape rack

Studio 5 dead room grass

Studio 5 view from control room

Radio Studio 3 Till

Old till. Photo by Martin Fenton, no reproduction without permission

The photo is of the Radio Studio 3 till. This was the old one, which decided to go open circuit during a recording and threw me across the studio floor, only narrowly missing an actor. It could no longer be plugged in, but it still made a noise.

Martin Fenton

Below is the replacement till, without the electrical fault! Radio Studio 3 was the studio used by The Archers, amongst other network radio dramas.

New till. Photo by Martin Fenton, no reproduction without permission

Radio Studio 3 Control Room

2 Shortcut 360 effects players to replace the PEG.

Sony mixer and patching

2 x Widebody EMT 950 turntables

Studers

Main Sony mixer with PPM on top

Photos by Martin Fenton, no reproduction without permission.

These photos are of Radio Studio 3 at Pebble Mill. This was used by Network Radio dramas. They were taken by Martin in autumn 2003.

“Studio 3 control room. Recorded effects submixer. Note the Shortcuts – practically obsolete when they were purchased by somebody who wasn’t expected to use them.”

Martin Fenton

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

David Shute: ‘Some of us remember the time when the empty studio was recording atoms’ for later edit usage. A senior member of staff chose the location to have a stand-up row with his mistress and it was all recorded. I wonder if anyone kept a copy?’

Rigger Driver’s Locker

Photo by Martin Fenton, no reproduction without permission.

Martin took this photo in autumn 2003. It shows one of the outside broadcast rigger driver’s lockers. The driver must have had a penchant for apples, judging from the stickers. The outside broadcast department had been closed by this date.