The station was built in the 1920s by the BBC as the first of a network of regional dual ("twin wave" was the term then used) transmitter stations, replacing the city-based ones used previously, and this was to cover the Home Counties, London and South East.

Shortly after the commencement of transmissions, the channels were identified by a name denoting its function.

No public electricity supply was available so large generators were installed and an extensive support staff was recruited and trained by the BBC.

The station was re-engineered in the late 1970s and an extra T-antenna (mini T) was hung between two 18.3 m (60 ft) poles constructed a few hundred feet north from the original north T-antenna, and new transmission equipment was installed replacing the original Marconi transmitters, the 140 kW STC transmitter, and other BBC-designed transmission equipment which was installed in the 1960s.

On 20 January 2023, Absolute Radio stopped broadcasting on 1215 kHz, along with all its other AM frequencies across the UK.