HOSDB (Home Office Scientific Development Branch) Sandridge
Introduction
The photograph on this page of HOSDB (Home Office Scientific Development Branch) Sandridge by Chris Reynolds as part of the Geograph project.
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HOSDB (Home Office Scientific Development Branch) Sandridge
Image: © Chris Reynolds Taken: 23 Apr 2009
The original site began 1939 as a wireless intercept station for the Foreign Office operated by GPO radio engineers and was used to intercept diplomatic traffic between enemy governments and their embassies. Initially the messages were in morse code but later Germany used high speed encryption and transmission equipment that needed to be recorded by undulators, a mechanised paper strip inking system. The results were sent by teleprinter to Bletchley park for decryption. The messages were of the highest value to Winston Churchill who received assessments every day. After WW2 it became part of the Diplomatic Wireless Service and remained largely unchanged until 1973 when it was handed over to the Home office. Sources - National Archives file HW55/3 & HW14/102, http://www.ystations.webs.com/
Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Image Location
Latitude
51.77777
Longitude
-0.285056