Sutton Common BT Tower

Sutton Common BT Tower is a 72-metre (238-foot) radio tower built of reinforced concrete at Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. Sutton Common was originally conceived as part of the 1950s 'Backbone' chain designed to provide the UK and NATO with survivable communications during nuclear war.[1]

Sutton Common
Sutton Common BT Tower
Sutton Common BT Tower (Cheshire)
LocationMacclesfield, Cheshire
Coordinates53.206129°N 2.100728°W / 53.206129; -2.100728
Grid referenceSJ9327467710
Built1960s

The tower stands near the summit of Croker Hill on the western edge of the Peak District national park. Sutton relays signals to Heaton Park in the north and Pye Green to the south. For survivability during a nuclear war, the Backbone towers are some of the few communication towers in the United Kingdom built of reinforced concrete.

Building a wind farm near the transmitter was considered, but wasn't able to happen due to interruption that may have been caused by the blades to the radio waves.

Channels available from this site

Analogue radio
Frequency kW [2] Service
96.4 MHz 0.250 Signal 1
106.9 MHz 0.300 Silk FM

Digital radio
Frequency Block kW Operator
220.352 MHz 11C 0.5 Manchester
229.072 MHz 12D 0.5 Stoke & Stafford

See also

References
  1. Backbone radio link and radio standby to line links for safeguarding vital communications. GPO paper for the Official Committee on Civil Defence, July 1956. The National Archives (UK) CAB 134/1207
  2. Radio Listeners Guide 2010


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