The Emley Moor Tower | & A Collapse!

[@wellyftw]

I live in Sydney, Australia and on a clear day I can see the tower.

[@AdventureMe]

I bet you can. I can see the Chifley Tower from a hill in Yorkshire lol.

[@spacecat3198]

🤣

[@graceybett1949]

No way it’s In UK😭

[@robmarrin6720]

It's a flat earth 😂

[@princesscharlotteroyalss]

@@robmarrin6720 are you- omg PLS

[@gazbopilot1]

I remember dad coming home that night, and shouting at my brother, and myself.. "Tha's been laikin' wi it ageern ant tha! Ow many times ave ah telled thi- keep thi mitts off them dials !" It took a later radio broadcast , to convince him we were innocent. By way of apology, he took us all up to see the wreckage that weekend. I'll never forget it. Brilliant film. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnc3403]

One of the highlights of my Engineering career was to take that 7 minute ride to the top of Emley Moor tower to the viewing platform. The view was spectacular, the shadow of the tower pointed like a Sundial across the landscape. The noise of the ratchet lift, clackety clack and 5 of us squashed in like sardines and being hoisted aloft, will live with me forever. Great memories.. and a beautiful tower. John EI5JS

[@AdventureMe]

Hopefully one day I'll get to do it.

[@millomweb]

I guess its real purpose is as a goods lift for taking equipment to the top.

[@ImAtLevel53]

@@johnc3403 I once had to go up it as was working on a radio station and they knew I didn’t like heights and I had to do a dare or a forfeit so went up. Took 7& a Half mins to the viewing platform, was moving in the wind 💨 ever so slightly …. I threw up 🤮

[@captaindave47]

I drove past the mast 30 minutes before it collapsed that night and by the time I got home the TV stopped working. Thanks for the memory.

[@alfredbatchelor1954]

Worked as as a rigger most of These towers, later as a supervisor back in the 90’s. Great experience.

[@AdventureMe]

Rather you than me lol

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

Working for ITN news in the 1980’s I often used to set up microwave links equipment in the control room at the top of the tower, and was amazed at the way the structure swayed in the wind. Sitting there monitoring the equipment it felt like I was on a boat being gently rocked by small waves rather than 330m up in the air!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks. More to come

[@peterb514]

As an airline pilot I can tell you that the correct answer is thus - Emley Moor is the UK’s tallest FREESTANDING structure at 1083’ and the tallest (guy wire supported) structure is indeed the Belmont TV mast (west of Louth in Lincs) at 1154’.

[@Carvetii]

No its not its the skelton mast in cumbria at 1198 ft

[@peterb514]

Aha… I’m happy to be corrected, I’ll check it out on my Northern chart 👍🏻

[@-The-Mon]

@@peterb514 the belmont mast used to be the tallest but it was shortened some years ago

[@dannyg2360]

@@Carvetii - Is that 'free standing' or does it have restraining wires?

[@dungareesareforfools]

There are two structures in Yorkshire that I cannot believe are not celebrated more - the Emley Moor mast and the Humber bridge.

[@AdventureMe]

I agree. And I hope to do something on the Humber bridge too. They need to illuminate them both for a start.

[@dungareesareforfools]

@@AdventureMe Yes, exactly what I've been saying for ages!

[@dungareesareforfools]

@Uncle Gilbert Make them look prettier for a start. Maybe visitor centres too, turn them into tourist attractions.

[@grahamrichards193]

As a 13 year old London lad, I visited my Aunt in Horbury at Whitsun 1967. My Uncle took us out for a drive to see the Emley Moor Mast. It was the one that later collapsed. We revisited in 1972 when up for a wedding. The fields were still strewn with debris from the collapsed mast and I “acquired” a small bracket about 3”x6” that I proudly owned for a good few years after that! Later in life I moved to Yorkshire and lived there for 25 years. Seeing the new tower always enabled me to know approximately where I was in Yorkshire as I travelled round. Now retired I’m back home in Essex and, sadly, the mast isn’t visible from here!

[@DirectDemocrat]

I remember when the wreckage of the old structure was still laying in the field over the road. We went up on the school bus and were walking through it. That was in 1971, but I don't know when they finally moved it all. Of course, no such visit would ever be allowed today without loads of people with hard hats, Hi-viz jackets and safety boots. But 50 years ago nobody worried about such trivia. We weren't the only school either. Another school arrived whilst we were there.

[@andrewmicas4327]

1969 mate

[@cullenluka6899]

I guess Im asking randomly but does anyone know of a method to log back into an instagram account..? I was stupid lost the login password. I would appreciate any help you can offer me.

[@westondeacon5092]

@Cullen Luka instablaster :)

[@cullenluka6899]

@Weston Deacon I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and Im in the hacking process atm. I see it takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.

[@cullenluka6899]

@Weston Deacon it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thanks so much, you saved my ass !

[@davidhall1395]

As a young boy and a traveler, I grew up travelling around Yorkshire, I was amazed at how many places you could see it from..it was like part of life with the sparkling lights at night always there.

[@paulprescott7913]

You know your getting near home when you can see Emley moor mast from the M1. Thanks Darren.

[@doubtingthomas736]

My kids used to look out for the mast if we'd been on a trip away. 🙂

[@elwolf8536]

So true 😂

[@Kevinfordsynthesizers]

Thanks for making this, I’ve recently moved back to Yorkshire after 35 years, near to Barnsley and have a pretty decent view of the transmitter. As a child in the 70s, I remember the daily Yorkshire Television opening announcement - before the days of 24 tv, “This is Yorkshire Television broadcasting from the Emley Moor transmitter..” or words to that effect. I’ll make the journey over there!

[@KjgGil]

My dad worked for the IBA ( They owned the mast back then) from 1970 till he retired in 1991 and was based at Emley. Back in the day when TV went off about 11:30pm my dad would have to wait till 3am before he was able to start work within the mast due to the radiation, he had some real big radiation burns over his body. Plus a lot of people don't realise how cold it gets up there, with the wind chill factor it gets well below zero even when it's say 20°C on the ground. He loved that place.

[@samrodian919]

I truly hope he got danger money and or compensation but this is England so I suppose not!

[@KjgGil]

@@samrodian919 you suppose correctly!... To be honest it didn't seem to affect him, he passed in April 2016 aged 84 but dementia was the reason. When he retired he was given a piece off the mast that fell in 1969 ( god knows where or why they kept it!) Which was more apt than you may know, my dad and 5 of his brothers were part of the steel erectors that built the 1st mast!!😁😁🤣🤣

[@lozboi3058]

I was up from Norwich working at Barnsley hospital earlier in the year and I remember seeing emley moor tower on the way to my digs. I said to my colleague “wow look at that structure” it was really impressive! And now I’ve learnt a bit of history about it, thanks! 👍🏻

[@stevemidgley1503]

No matter ow far tha roams, there’s nowt as grand as Yorkshire.

[@toonmag50]

Apart from most of north Yorkshire who take their television transmissions from Pontop Pike , Durham.

[@robertwright7937]

Unless you roam to Lancashire, obviously. 🙄😁

[@stevemidgley1503]

@@robertwright7937 eyup, no bad language there! 😂😂

[@S3dINS]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[@robertwright7937]

@@stevemidgley1503 I apologise for nowt! Go on St Helens!!😁👍

[@YanikOlsen]

I’m becoming an avid viewer, loving see all the local area in professional quality film. Well done! Please make many more, thanks for taking the time out to do them.

[@AdventureMe]

Thank you. Many more to come.

[@rebekahhelliwell9891]

Yes

[@JustAGameShow]

I'm one of the lucky ones to actually stand in that viewing platform, dad worked for BT in the 80's/90's and did some upgrades for early 1G networking in it.

[@dfar2303]

I did some IT work for NTL in 1998 spent 2 weeks at Emley. On the last day got treated to a trip up the tower. Got a certificate too... :-) It's quite a view from up there.

[@rjones6219]

I waved to you, from 17 miles away, but you didn't wave back. So hurt 😂😂😂

[@RichardHallas]

I’ve always had a soft spot for Emley Moor Mast because, aside from the fact that it’s an elegant and beautiful structure (especially for something so utilitarian), we’re the same age. Just as the old mast fell down, I was being born. I arrived on the 21st March, just about a day after the old mast came down. I’d no idea that the old mast’s base had been repurposed at the sailing club, though. That’s fascinating!

[@swanteal2355]

My husband said his dad was working there as security to stop people stealing the scrap metal from the Tower. His father took him to see the metal on the ground and had good time looking around, he was 8years old then. Good old memories 😉. Thank you Darren for this beautiful video.

[@donaldasayers]

The twin of the Emley more tower that collapsed, is the Belmont Transmitting Station, on the Lincolnshire Wolds just down the road from us. It is about 118 ft shorter now, having been shortened in 2010. It's still quite impressive close up.

[@mchandler15]

I delivered a load of equipment there for the change over to digital TV. It was freezing cold and really windy and there was ice constantly falling down and smashing into the roof of the trailer of the lorry.

[@JonathanCreaser]

Great video! I was 9 and living near Otley at the time the tower collapsed and remember being frustrated that Yorkshire TV was off the air for so long as we couldn't watch Thunderbirds! When the temporary mast was put up the signal was weak with awful picture quality. First world problems 😁

[@Dan_Whitehead]

My dad was a Fireman at Huddersfield Fire Station for 25 years and was one of the first on scene when the Mast fell (He has some great stories to tell!). I was born and brought up in Skelmanthorpe so it has always been part of my life. I was also fortunate enough to know someone who used to work at the new mast and he took me up a couple of times and also allowed my Mum and Dad to take a trip up too! We did used to have a part of the original Mast in the loft but sadly that seems to have got lost over the years!

[@AdventureMe]

Hi Dan, I bet the trip to the top was amazing, hopefully one day i'll get to do it.

[@MrNeilypops]

I have just discovered this. I spent many hours on the top of the tower in the 1980s receiving microwave transmissions for ITN News as a Broadcast Engineer. The tower would move in a figure 8 motion when you were at the top which could be quite disturbing depending on the wind speed...the lift was a bit scary too lol...after work there was a good pub near the tower...I forget the name...thanks for the video.

[@AdventureMe]

The 3 acres probably.

[@MrNeilypops]

@@AdventureMe That was it. Thanks for the reminder. These are distant memories of part of my working life. I haven't lived in the UK for nearly 30 years and I no longer work-so thanks for the memories again.

[@MURDOCK1500]

I remember when the mast came down very well. Our primary school at Hade Edge was shut because power cables had been brought down by the ice. The sailing club incidentally is Bow Shaw in Hade Edge. I've spent many a happy hour fishing there

[@paulbennell3313]

They really went to town with the lighting. Looked ace!

[@Steve_Wardley_G6JEF]

I was born in Wakefield in 1956 (Dec) and vaguely remember the TV news showing the remains of the collapsed tower back in the day. Great video Darren, must have a look up that way again myself sometime but living now in Bridlington means I'll have to make a day of it and visit some of my old haunts at the same time.

[@Bettys_Eldest]

My dad lived all his married life ten miles to the north east in West Ardsley. You could see the mast from the windows at the back of the house. We didn't have a TV when the aerial collapsed, only getting one a year or so later ready for the 1966 World Cup. When TV went digital he was told that he would need a new aerial to continue getting a picture. I bought and installed a digi-box for him, with no problems. His picture was brilliant. No need for a new aerial, the old knitting needle tied to the end of his coaxial cable worked so much better than the fancy aerial I have in my house.

[@michaelharrison9340]

What a lovely little article - always look forward to seeing the tower when I come back home. Thank you.

[@shrekreviewsthings]

I've seen Emley Moor mast from Woodhall Services (far south of Sheffield), on top of of the North Yorkshire Moors (A169), Top of windy hill, Saddleworth Moor (west) and actually seen the lights from Bridge. Everytime I see it, it reminds me I'm not far from home.

[@AdventureMe]

It's a Yorkshire Icon.

[@rogertrett406]

Great little video. Well done!

[@JayBrainstorm123]

I was lucky enough to go up Emley moor when I used to work as an aerial rigger. I have stood on top of the equipment room at the top. The 7 minutes in the lift is an experience, we had to have someone with us who could operate the emergency lever in case it broke down! I remember looking down at the sheep at the base of the tower and them looking like little bits of cotton wool. It's an experience I'll never forget, one of the highlights of my career! It was operated by NTL at that time (1998 I think).

[@harry130747]

Not mentioned. When the tubular tower collapsed, they put up a much smaller temporary mast within a couple of weeks. As we lived nearby that worked for us. Dunno about people further away, Hundreds of people came from miles around to see the wreckage of the fallen mast. Also not mentioned, the original anchors remain for the stay cables, huge concrete blocks set in the ground. Looks like they are using them for the latest temporary mast.

[@sammyhawkins5590]

The first thing you see that tells me I'm nearly home, even though I don't live there anymore, just visit from time to time. It's my place of birth until I moved in 1998

[@skareggae301]

Huddersfield has two iconic towers, Emley Moor and Castle Hill ,Not bad for a small town.

[@mervynsands3501]

Magnificent engineering, it can be seen from a long way off on any clear day in good light conditions. On a grand scale this is one of the best. When you glimpse this from any direction, you know roughly where you are in the UK.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes, you are right

[@julesjwg]

Emley mast is always a sign I'm home driving back on the M1

[@AdventureMe]

I think it is for most of us Yorkshire folk.

[@markturner7459]

I was lucky enough to be in on a guided tour for the electronics engineers from the RNLI in the nineties - back then it was called the NTL tower. Truly amazing and not a little disconcerting to feeling it swaying in the breeze! Among the broadcast equipment, we were surprised to see a shedload of Sky satellite receivers, each one monitoring an individual channel... I seem to remember the ratchet type lift could just hold four of us. As for the views..wow!

[@leathandrubb]

I live in the Doncaster area. when Emley moor fell down i turned our aerial around and got Anglia tv.it was spotty but better that nothing at all.we had a car ride to emley moor and had a look round.it was freezing that day so i don't think we stayed long.thanks for posting this great video.

[@raymarshall8336]

I remember, as a kid the tower coming down. no telly for ages, was bad news then , we improved our football on the streets though. And remember my mother shouting to us outside, the tellys back on . Wouldnt bother me this day & age if the tv went down. I also worked with a Father & Son team that did all the flooring in the control tower at the top many years ago. The old fella was even asked if he wanted to climb up the inside of the antenna ,to which he accepted. They said it was amazing, you could feel it moving all the time. 1 minute blue sky, the next you where in the clouds.

[@AdventureMe]

Sounds fascinating, I would love to get up there one day.

[@martinandrews7387]

My memories are the same.Remember my Dad saying, "Yorkshire is back on".I recall it being Sunday afternoon,and it was "Skippy" that was on.

[@egpx]

In the seventies I was a pupil at Shelley High School, now Shelley College, just two or three miles from the mast and remember gazing out on it during many a lesson. It was an impressive structure back then and remains so to this day.

[@FastAsFunk]

It genuinely is iconic. Good to see you here egpx 👋😊

[@egpx]

@@FastAsFunk hey FastAs, I guess we must be subject to the same KZbin recommendation algorithms!

[@FastAsFunk]

That and the fact I'm an antenna geek lol

[@egpx]

@@FastAsFunk there must be a Facebook group for that!

[@grindelston5968]

Seeing as you're local, do you fancy doing a video on the Halifax bank HQ in Halifax, it's massive and even has a masons lodge built into it. The whole thing is a right sinister looking thing. It's built to withstand a nuclear blast because it's where they keep all the mortgage certificates safe. I just reckon it's up your street and would make a very interesting video

[@AdventureMe]

I would if they would let me inside.

[@residentelect]

Lol, I don't know if I'd be willing to test out your theory of the deed store (to give it it's proper title) being suitable to withstand a nuclear blast and subsequent fallout? However, as well as it being strong enough to protect it from fire, explosives, gunfire, flooding and seismic activity, redundancy was also built into the structure to allow it to remain intact if an airliner came down right on top of it 😳 So, if Mr Putin does decide to lob a few conventional ballistic missiles towards West Yorkshire, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more suitable shelter than underneath "the diamond" on Trinity Rd 😁

[@Chris-ln6so]

Quite topical for those of us in North Yorkshire, since Bilsdale caught fire. Great video, as always.

[@thecolosseumgames7934]

As a child I watched the tower being erected from Upper Denby! Thanks for the memories

[@southleedsmemories2686]

Another great little video. Well done:-)

[@AdventureMe]

Thank You

[@Richard-io9xe]

The original one collapsed 5 days before I was born!. I love the lighting effects they had during the tour de france. They should keep that permanently. It would be Iconic.

[@PtangPtangBiscuitBarrelSmith]

Ah used ta wesh Emley t'Moor TV masts windows. Them wooden ladders were a pig t'carry ah tell thee. But we were appy.

[@AlexanderWright1]

I went on a trip to the tower as part of my degree at York University. The day we visited, it was so foggy, you could not see the tower until your nose was pressed against it. We did get to go up. It has a cog powered lift in the centre. Going through the door in the base of the tower, where we could see little further than our outstretched hand to inside the tower, where it is almost completely open all the way up was very unusual. The lift travels up a steel formwork in the centre, that also supports the transmission cables. It stops near the top where there is an observation deck that circles the top of the tower. The main antenna are fitted to the top of the concrete on a short steel column. The deck is used to quickly point parabolic antenna where needed. The day I visited, outside was a uniform grey ;'(

[@suesmith4366]

Brilliant 👍🏻 my ex worked on the rebuilding of the mast my daughter used to tell everyone my Dad built that. He is on the film a tale of a tower walking round the tower when they were building it. I can see the old mast out of my front window, if I’d have known you could of called in for a cuppa 😂

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Sue. I used to live in Shelley, and my back garden looked onto the mast.

[@modeltrainsandtracks]

I was in Junior School in Upper Hopton (Mirfield) at the time the mast collapsed. Our Headmaster (Mr Mason) encouraged us to design a replacement mast which years later turned out to be basically identical to the new mast - not bad for a bunch of 6 year olds! I just wish I still had that drawing. I may be making this bit up but I'm sure we sent it in to someone as a suggestion...

[@petey6415]

That was absolutely fascinating! I've known that tower all my life yet knew so little about it! Thank you for that!!

[@richardclarke376]

These videos luckily started being surfaced by YT. Never heard of any of this. Absolutely fascinating - thanks for posting !

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@shirleybedford3625]

Always know we are nearly home when we see the mast, and that out journey is nearly over

[@AdventureMe]

Same here

[@peterridal6650]

I went to Penistone grammar school, the kids from Emley attended the school and I can remember them coming that morning and saying the mast had fallen down.

[@waynecheshire7878]

Not heard of the tower before but coming to Yorkshire next year and I’m sure I won’t be able to miss it , cheers Darren 🗼

[@AdventureMe]

Yes. Keep an eye out

[@johnny5805]

I really HATE Arqiva ! Not only did they rename the tower to "The Arqiva Tower" (!) and reduced it's height - they could have stuck a lightning conductor on top to retain the height, but no ! They also reduced the height of (the original) Emley's sister mast The Belmont Transmitting Tower by 118 feet !! Taking away it's title of the tallest tubular mast in the world !

[@SampleTracks2224]

I think it's less about ego here than functionality.

[@billybritvic5500]

Just made a cuppa and sat down for another very enjoyable video. I remember when the tower collapsed, we had to retune the tv in order to receive Tyne Tees television. I remember all the adverts were for shops / stores up in the north east and all the stories on the local news station, (ours was Calendar) was about Tyneside etc..

[@jasinere35]

tyne tees

[@Rogar0]

I worked for a company which in the time in about 1969, a week before it fell down I was up in the top of it, checking out the build up of ice to find a solution for the build up! But a week later it collapsed!

[@robertbrice2108]

Fascinating stuff! What a brilliant video. I’m really liking your channel. When I’m driving up the M1 I always know I’m nearly home when I see Emley Moor!

[@AdventureMe]

Great to hear! Thanks for watching.

[@SheardTV1]

Went up Emley Moor transmitter in 1992 when I started working at Calendar News. I’m pretty sure you could see a trench in the floor from above where the original mast had left an imprint when it fell. It also swayed around a bit at the top which was fun!

[@AdventureMe]

You're lucky to do that

[@robbilton5839]

Great video, looking forward to your next one

[@niczoom]

Looks great at night all lit up!

[@celebrationballoonsofrothw2706]

Another very informative video. A DJ friend and colleague of mine lives at Emley about a mile from the mast, it's a very impressive structure.

[@AdventureMe]

Great to hear!

[@gerbilmajor]

Did you know that the original lattice steel tower that was erected in 1956 and dismantled after the steel tubular tower was built is still in use today as a TV transmitter It was put in storage and then re-erected in 1971 overlooking a small town in Scotland called Burntisland. It is now known as the Craigkelly transmitter

[@AdventureMe]

I didn't. But thanks for that info

[@fredthebass185]

Fascinating video. Thanks. I'm watching from Spain where I now live, but I'm originally a Leeds lad (now 64).

[@robertlowe8516]

You can see the tower from the top of Pendle Hill, which is about 55km north west of Emley Moor tower.

[@rjones6219]

Of all the years I've been up Pendle, I never noticed. What I do know, is you can see Pendle Hill from Scafell Pike 😀

[@jeffallinson8089]

This was a fascinating video, great upload. I first saw the Tower from the M62 across Saddleworth Moor and I had to google what it was! I have driven past it on various routes many times since then and the sheer size of the tower blows me away every time.

[@rjones6219]

Its size is incomprehendable . If you go to the mast, you'll see some massive doors in the base, which obviousoy are for large vehicles with equipment. But they just look like an ordinary door. An optical illusion.

[@jameskellett2699]

My grandad once went up to the top of the mast when my uncle worked there. He said he could feel it sway slightly in the wind and said the view was incredible.

[@duvalian]

I could see this quite clearly from my bedroom window as a kid on the Westwood estate in Middleton. I still look out for it when coming back home from the south where I currently live, and feel a sense of home when it comes into view…

[@charliedavies9160]

I live in Huddersfield so this is one of the landmarks near me

[@AdventureMe]

I used to live right next to it, but no more.

[@Nivaik]

My Dad worked for the BBC as a Transmitter engineer (based at Holme Moss) and My brother and I got the change to go up the tower one summer during the holidays. We only went to the room at the top, but we did see the ladders that took you further up... i think i climed a little further...but not to the hatch. A fact i found amazing (for my age...12-13 ish) was the pulls cord for the window blindes were moving/swinging, my Dad axplained that it was the tower moving and the draw cords were stationery. So this big tower was slowley swaying in the wind!! and the lift - 7 mins to get up the tower, but 5 to get down... nice!!

[@AdventureMe]

I'm very jealous

[@shytot4x4]

The original mast fell down on 19th March 1969. I was watching TV at the time the signal was cut. I remember my dad taking me to see the debris and we grabbed a couple of bits of the fibreglass cladding as souvenirs. I was 8 years old at the time.

[@AdventureMe]

Must have been exciting at the time. Thanks for watching.

[@ste9071]

I don't live too far from Emley Moor mass, had a drive up there plenty of times at night just to take in the views. Breathtaking on a summers clear night 🙂

[@AdventureMe]

It's amazing. I used to live next to it too.

[@ste9071]

Yeah it's very tranquil Darren, I've parked in the little layby plenty of times and had a bite to eat and a brew from Wooley Edge services.

[@ronaldunthank62]

A few interesting facts about Emley Moor, you can drive a bus around the inside at the bottom, the base wall is 1.5 mtrs thick which narrows to 30cm at the top and is 950mtrs of concrete, the mast was built from the top down and jacked up as each piece was added and finally jacked all the way to the top, how do I know? I worked for the company that built the tower called Tileman who were the early pioneers of the jump shutter system and later the slip forming system that we know so well today, other credits for this company who sadly no longer exists are the slip formed towers of the Humber Bridge, Sheffield incinerator, Beatson Clark in Rotherham.

[@fromthetaperoom6325]

In the old days of analogue TV (kids, ask your parents), Emley Moor was the first UK transmitter to 'officially' begin transmitting programmes in NICAM* stereo in the early 1990s. Everything was mono (single track audio, same left & right) before then. Making Yorkshire the first in the UK to officially receive TV programmes in stereo. Unofficially Yorkshire Television were testing NICAM stereo before this on the James Whale Radio Show, which was broadcast live (on TV) from 1am to 2am Saturday mornings. The programme still holds peak viewing records for that time slot to this day. For those not old enough, it was an anarchic, off the cuff, no script chat show, but at 1am! Long before Arqiva took charge of the tower, there were 2 ways to get to the top. Ladder, or lift. The lift was known for breaking down. Do you take the ladder, or the lift? The lift was also officially 'condemned', yet as the only 'speedy' way to the top, staff continued to use it! To cope with the high winds, the tower, as several write, was designed to sway. To achieve this there were designed breaks between concrete sections. These breaks also let in rain water. The result being that on some occasions it would "rain" inside the tower! The swaying tower also caused the lift to shake violently from side to side when in motion. "Officially" the lift was not to be used during high winds. Now, imagine using the lift in high winds when its raining. "Some" engineers did that crazy thing! * Near Instantaneous Companded Audio Multiplex - an early form of stereo digital audio

[@AdventureMe]

I am older than you think. I remember analogue and remember nicam coming out. I also remembe the James whale show, coming from the radio Aire building if I remember correctly.

[@fromthetaperoom6325]

@@AdventureMe It was the Radio Aire reception area. The whole programme only started because someone popped a video cable from Yorkshire TV (next door) through a window at Radio Aire to see if they could get a usable video picture out the other end. This test was carried out during James Whale's regular radio programme, at 1am. The resulting picture was then put to transmission..... because, kids, there was no such thing as 24 hour telly. The TV went off around midnight. The first thing anyone knew was James Whale telling his listeners (who were only in the Leeds area) to switch their telly on. BEHOLD! The James Whale TV show is (unofficially) born. The show went on to transmit much material that was 'banned' at the time.... Music videos to Duran Durans 'Girls on Film', Sabrina's 'Boys boys boys', and I think Cher's 'If I could turn back time' It featured many drunken guests, including a 'rock star' who tried to start a fight live on air, lots of semi-naked ladies, and lots of swearing (especially during live phone ins). The show was big. Unfortunately ITV network noticed it was "big", threw a load of money at it and moved it to the London Studios.....because "We can't have a big, live, show coming from Yorkshire. It MUST be done from London because we can get better guests on." It lost its atmosphere, went down the pan, ratings plummeted, and the plug was pulled. Well done ITV, well done you!

[@rjones6219]

@@fromthetaperoom6325 Ah yes, when TV went off to the national athem. Always tried to turn it off before the first bars got going. Just like they used to rush out of the cinemas at the end of the film for the same readon.😂 And bbc radio used to finish about 1 am.. The Sunday God spot on bbc, from 4pm till nearly 7pm, then hallelujah Sunday Night at the London Palladium, with Brucie. Aye them were the days 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@alvadr570]

Drive past this everyday on the way to work. Such an amazing structure

[@seedubyu]

GREAT video, very interesting and informative. Well Done.

[@danielmarshall4587]

Cheers ... thanks for your time and effort making this video.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the tour, Darren. An amazing structure. Thanks for the video. Cheers mate.

[@brianbarr1000]

I was 11 when the mast collapsed, I lived in Heckmondwike. My father took me to see it later and we took a piece of the outer case. Later when I was about 18 I worked for a Bradford radio station as a tech op. Emley Moor was our ROC (Regional operation centre), I was invited to tour the transmitter. I was allowed to take the lift up the tower to the broadcast room at the top.

[@AdventureMe]

You're so lucky

[@dcallan812]

My dad did some plumbing work at the top not long after it was built. Very interesting building the videos from the top are unreal, especially when you can climb above the building onto a 369 degree balcony.

[@a5pin]

this comment made my head hurt, where did the extra 9 degrees come from? And how can you climb above the building, are you climbing into air?

[@dcallan812]

@@a5pin The ceiling has a hatch, you climb up a ladder onto the top of the building and you are above it. And who would object to an extra 9 degrees when its a typo.

[@NOWThatsRichy]

Very interesting content, especially about the collapse of the old tower. I've always been fascinated by the various transmitter masts & towers, Right, time to zip up my anorak! The nearest ones to me, being based in Portsmouth, are the two on the Isle of Wight, at Rowridge (TV & BBC FM radio transmissions) & Chillerton Down (which now transmits Commercial radio & DAB radio signals) at a height of about 1,000 feet, these two masts can be seen for many miles around Hampshire & transmit to a large part of the South coast of England. Great music on the soundtrack here too.

[@Ian-gw2vx]

Very interesting. Towers have always fascinated me. It's strange as when you see it behind you it only looks around a couple of hundred feet but that must be the lens.

[@tonywright8294]

Guy cables lovely fella always gives you support when you need it ! 🤣

[@markparish9072]

Had a spell driving 7 plus years ago. spotted a tower when doing Yorkshire drops and wondered what it was, thanks. now I Know.

[@sharpie842]

Thanks for sharing this. I had no idea it was that tall. Also subscribed to find out more on our lovely county.

[@andyderwent6407]

superb film. I often drive on the M62 over to Louth in lincolnshire. I get good views of Winter hill, Emley Moor and Belmont near Louth. Emley Moor is,for me, the most interesting and imposing of the three.

[@peterszar]

I almost stopped watching this vid because with the long intro footage, I thought it was going to be one of those non-narrative, music only video's. I'm glad I stuck to it. Very interesting video. Cool illumination photos, they should have it lit up continuously.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks. Glad you stuck it out.

[@ericgeorge5483]

Hated the music but the information and video content was excellent!! Great work, thank you.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Eric

[@Frank-uk6jh]

Great film, didn't know about the re use of the old mast. I only have lichfield and sutton coldfield mast to look at.

[@robemley6130]

I loved watching this because I am an Emley, and knew about Emley Moor, but never knew about Emley Moor Tower. I live in Salt Lake City, Utah for those that might have been curious. Bang up job on the video.

[@AdventureMe]

Thank you

[@grindelston5968]

Google earth has a good 3D shot of it

[@scottlp2323]

I never knew we had this in the UK. What a graceful structure. I've been up the CN Tower to the SkyPod and that was mindblowing. Thanks for the video. :)

[@stewartmackay]

I've been up the CN tower too, in 1982. Oddly we don't usually build these types of towers (that the public can go up) in UK cities, but many North American cities have one. I've also been up the Calgary tower and the one in Seattle.

[@marksimons4108]

@@stewartmackay theres one in Liverpool called the radio city tower and the lift takes you straight up!

[@stewartmackay]

@@marksimons4108 Yes, fair enough, I've been up the Blackpool tower too, but thats a Victorian structure.

[@andrewhoward7200]

My uncle was from Yorkshire, he used to sing Fish n chips, fish n chips, ee bah gum what a champion dish. Skinnigrove he came from, lovely bloke spent the whole war overseas, he never went abroad on holiday, he used to say Seen enough o' that int bloody war. Yorkshire, heart of England ......but Devon's nicer! Thanks for an interesting film.

[@lliving4today]

I photographed Skinningrove a couple of years ago...it seemed a very unique placd

[@mrsgenehunt48]

Absolutely fascinating. BTW Happy Yorkshire Day🎉 How you present these videos makes history even more exciting. Seeing someone's drive and passion about any particular item makes it more interesting and appealing. I personally believe having a visual makes you remember it better. Great work Darren. 👏 (Jan aka Mrs GeneHunt)

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks. This is one of my weaker ones. It was my third ever video made.

[@LUFCMOT50]

Really informative and interesting!

[@KaitlynnUK]

Intersting video, but I have to say that the music was much louder than the commentary

[@holmesjunction]

I've heard the tales of the guy wires cutting through the buildings but never seen a picture, thanks. We live in South Yorkshire. My wife remembers the picture going off but I don't. I lived with a hill to the north west that blocked the signal, so we carried on as normal on another aerial mast.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the info and for watching.

[@paulbrown9802]

A great video! I’m a radio/transmitter geek and love everything about the Emley Moor mast. I nearly had the chance to visit it through a former colleague but just couldn’t get it across the line - maybe one day! I can see two masts where I live, one Arqiva and one BBC but neither as impressive as EM 💙

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate. I will get up there one day. Where do you live?

[@severs1966]

All the masts are Arqiva now. The former-IBA former-NTL former-IBA transmission dept and the former-NGW former-CCI former-CCI former-BBC-transmission-dept, each owners of about half of the UK's broadcast transmission masts and towers, were merged some years ago and now operate under the name "Arqiva".