Ref Number: 00490
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In the year 1897, he made the decision to select Alum Bay's Royal Needles Hotel as one of the locations for his scientific experiment.
Ref Number: 00490
Marconi’s birth took place in the year 1874, and subsequently, in 1896, he relocated to England due to the Italian post office’s refusal to do testing on his novel wireless technology. The individual’s maternal lineage may be traced back to the renowned Jameson family, known for their significant contributions to the whisky industry. The individual expressed a desire to advance his endeavours in the field of wireless telegraphy, seeing England as the most suitable location for such pursuits.
In the year 1897, he made the decision to select Alum Bay as one of the locations for his scientific experiment. The individual constructed a pole of 40 metres in height in close proximity to the Needles Hotel. This mast served as a transmission point, facilitating communication with the Haven Hotel located around 20 miles distant in Poole. A series of experiments were conducted over a duration of around one year 1898, which notably included a link-up event between the Prince of Wales on the Royal Yacht Osborne and Queen Victoria at Osborne House. Subsequently, Marconi shifted his focus towards establishing communication connections across channels.
A substantial mast, towering at a height of 168 feet, was erected in close proximity to the hotel. Over the subsequent years, Marconi progressively engaged in increasingly intricate experiments pertaining to wireless communications. . The remnants of Marconi’s experimental stations have significantly diminished over time, with the hotel and masts having been absent for a considerable period. Nevertheless, a commemorative structure dedicated to Marconi is situated on the precipice of the park, accompanied by informative lecterns that offer an elaborate account of the history of radio, Marconi himself, and the significant contribution made by Alum Bay.
Marconi conducted experiments at Knowles Farm near Niton, where a stone bearing the inscription “This is to commemorate that Marconi established a wireless experimental station at this location in the year 1900” was found. During his time in Niton, he choose to reside in the Royal Sandrock Hotel, which may be observed in the Undercliff photo pages. Regrettably, the hotel has since been demolished.
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