By the Battle of Britain in 1940, the south and east coast of England was protected by a series of RDF sites. These installations were made up of transmitter (TX) aerials, receiver (RX) aerials and a number of buildings to house electronics, stores and staff.

There were two main configurations, Chain Home (CH) and Chain Home Low (CHL). The latter sites were built to cover levels just above sea level, to help locate low flying aircraft.

The nearest CH sites are Bawdsey, six miles to the north and Great Bromley, ten miles to the west.

A colour photograph of the remaining transmitter tower at Great Bromley
This is the remaining transmitter tower at Great Bromley. There are several concrete bases, guardhouse and TX building remaining at the site. The bases of the RX towers are not far away, on the other side of the road.
Chain Home transmitter (TX) building at Bawdsey CH site in Suffolk. This is similar to that which survives at Great Bromley.

Bawdsey Manor, Suffolk

A black and white photo of Bawdsey Chain Home RDF site
Bawdsey Chain Home RDF site. The four steel transmitter towers can be seen in a row along the back. The four wooden receiver towers are seen in the centre.
This is one of 16 concrete blocks that would have supported the four transmitter towers. In the distance can be seen a type 25 pillbox, one of several that encircled the site.

Bawdsey Manor was the site chosen to develop the new concept of RDF from 1935. By 1940, it was an operational site covering the approaches to Harwich and Felixstowe.

The 360 foot steel transmitter towers can be seen in a row at the rear of the site. The four wooden receiver towers are towards the front. Each site had two brick and concrete buildings, one for the transmitter (TX), the other for the receiver (RX). Little remains of the Bawdsey site today.

Chain Home Low (CHL)

The nearest CHL site lies 5 miles south at Walton-on-the-Naze. Other CHL sites were located at Foreness in Kent, Dunwich and Hopton, both in Suffolk.

The RDF aerials were usually installed on top of steel structures. At the Naze, it was fitted to the top of the 86 foot high tower. These arrays were officially known as Air Ministry Experimental Sites (AMES Type 2) sets. The AMES Type 1 sets were the CH sites.

A black and white photo of the RDF array (aerial) mounted on top of the Naze Tower
The RDF array (aerial) mounted on top of the Naze Tower.

Walton CHL Site Today

Concrete slab marking the original entrance into the RDF site

Very little remains of the Walton CHL site, the main survivor being the Naze Tower. A few meters south of the tower is a brick and concrete store room, now used by the nearby Cafe. A concrete base can also be found at the top of the nearby steps leading down to the beach. The base is now used to support a modern bench, however its original use is unknown. Finally, the original entrance can be identified nearby at the top of the steps. A large concrete slab where the main gates once stood remains in situ. On close inspection, the metal plate that would have been used to secure the gates closed can still be seen.

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