Wood Norton Hall

Wood Norton Hall is a Grade II* listed[1] Victorian stately home to the northwest of Evesham, Worcestershire, England.

The site of a dwelling since medieval times, Wood Norton was once the home of Prince Philippe, Duke of Orléans, the last pretender to the throne of France.

[2] Its situation, hidden within acres of remote woodland on a hill facing south, made Wood Norton ideal for official use in the event of war.

[3] A dozen studios were built, and by 1940 Wood Norton was one of the largest broadcasting centres in Europe with an average output of 1,300 programmes a week.

The move was made to release space at Wood Norton so it could be used as the BBC's main broadcasting centre, should London have to be evacuated because of the threat from Germany's long-range V-weapons.

[6] A mast was constructed on top of the hill behind the hall and was fitted with an SHF dish (microwave link) to Daventry radio transmitting station (referred to in 1975 Cabinet papers released 30 December 2005).

The medical centre and old student's accommodation were used to represent a holding cell for Bill Haydon "Tailor" (Ian Richardson) at Sarratt whilst he was being interrogated by the inquisitors.

Under the leadership of Greg Dyke and Resources director Mike Southgate, the BBC sold off the residential accommodation used by trainees, which had been built by the corporation 20 years previously.