Network – Page 11 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Radio Studio 3 dead room

Photos by Martin Fenton, no reproduction without permission.

Martin took these photos at BBC Pebble Mill in 2003.

The first photo is of the radio Studio 3 dead room CCTV. Exterior scenes, of The Archers were recorded in this acoustically dead room, linked to the control room via this black-and-white CCTV camera.

When DAB started, this CCTV circuit caused problems. We received a helpful letter from a lifelong Archers fan, whose dog had started to bark uncontrollably whenever there was a scene set outdoors. It was the flyback from the CCTV monitor, which had previously been truncated on VHF but came through loud and clear on DAB for those creatures able to hear it…

The second photo is of the ‘soft’ area of the dead room, with the third photo being of the ‘hard’ area.

Spot Effects Store Room

Photos by Martin Fenton, no reproduction without permission.

These photos were taken in 2003 at Pebble Mill, they show the radio spot effects store room. The room may look like a jumble of assorted domestic bits and pieces, but it was the source of the spot effects used in radio dramas, primarily The Archers.

Thanks to Martin Fenton for sharing the photographs.

Borchester Echo 1970

Thanks to David Cassidy for sharing these stills.

This copy of the Borchester Echo is from 1970. It celebrates 20 years of The Archers. The magazine featured members of the production team, including David Cassidy’s mother, programme secretary, Lynne Grainger.

Radio Outside Broadcast Truck

Photos taken by Martin Fenton in 2003, no reproduction without permission.

Radio Outside Broadcast truck, parked in what looks like the BBC Pebble Mill garage.

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

Paul B Read: ‘Ahhh the Type B…fond memories…..’

Keith Brook: ‘I’m only guessing, but if you look above the truck, it looks like studio sound proofing. Maybe it was in Studio A before they trashed it.’

Kurt Tarrach: ‘No that’s definitely the OB garage that’s one of my orange stickers on the trolley!!’

Brian Vaughton demonstrates the STC 4032 mic

Brian Vaughton demos the STC 4032 mic from pebblemill on Vimeo.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

In this specially recorded video, freelance radio producer and editor, Brian Vaughton, demonstrates the STC 4032 mic. The mic was introduced in 1955. It was light, at only 12oz, and ideal for interviewers, commentators and presenters.