Memorial

Birth of Radar

Source: Copyright Anna Wilson

1/1

Current Location

Roadside memorial located on a bend in road, approx. 1/2 mile west of A5 junction with Northampton Road,, Northampton Road, Near Litchborough, Towcester, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN12 8HR, England

OS Grid Reference

SP 65022 55732

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Names listed on this memorial

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Memorial Details

Type of Memorial: Board / Plaque / Tablet
WMR Reference Number: 50289
Description: Roadside memorial. Landscape orientated, incised granite plaque attached to a rough hewn stone plinth. Engraving of a Heyford bomber is below the inscription. Lettering and engraving infilled in white. The whole memorial stands in a semi-enclosed fenced area on concrete. In front, is a gravelled area with two bollards. An adjacent complementary notice-board explains how the radar system worked.
Inscription: BIRTH OF RADAR MEMORIAL/ ON 26th FEBRUARY 1935, IN THE FIELD OPPOSITE/ ROBERT WATSON WATT AND/ ARNOLD WILKINS/ SHOWED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BRITAIN THAT/ AIRCRAFT COULD BE DETECTED BY BOUNCING/ RADIO WAVES OFF THEM. BY 1939 THERE WERE/ 20 STATIONS TRACKING AIRCRAFT AT DISTANCES/ UP TO MORE THAN 100 MILES. LATER KNOWN/ AS RADAR, IT WAS THIS INVENTION, MORE/ THAN ANY OTHER, THAT SAVED THE RAF/ FROM DEFEAT IN THE 1940 BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

Commemoration

War: Second World War (1939-1945)
Number Commemorated: 2
Served: 2

History

Maker(s): MR LES FINN, Mason
Sponsor Type: corporate,private
Additional Cost/Sponsorship Information: Stone plinth donated by local quarry. The private company that succeeded the government research agency employing Wilkins at the time of the discovery, QinetiQ, donated £3000 towards the memorial. Wilkins widow also contributed funds.

Ceremonies

Unveiled

2001

Local Clergy/Dignitaries

Conservation

Custodian: Stowe Nine Churches parish

Components

Plaque

Made from: Granite

Condition: Good

War MemorialsRegister

Birth of Radar

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

Names listed on this memorial

Contribute to the War Memorials Register

Memorial Details

Commemoration

History

Ceremonies

Conservation

Components

Birth of Radar

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

Names listed on this memorial

Contribute to the War Memorials Register

Memorial Details

Commemoration

History

Ceremonies

Conservation

Components

Further Information