The dish of the radio telescope.
It is linked electronically to various other radio telescopes. Although it was completed nearly 60 years ago it is in remarkable condition. It points to various places in the sky depending on what day you visit.
Jodrell Bank, Cheshire
Cheshire's world famous radio telescope Jodrell Bank was the location of my Cheshire Day out today. Here's an account of it as a location and a little about its past.
The Jodrell family were originally from Yeardsley, on the Cheshire/Derbyshire border. Their ancestor was William Jaudrell, an archer under Edward the Black Prince in 14th C. By the late fifteenth century the family spelling was Jodrell.
Through marriage to Roger Knutsford’s daughter, Roger Jodrell of Yeardsley acquired Twemlow in Cheshire and so the Jodrell family resided at Twemlow giving their name to the Jodrell hamlet.
Jodrell Bank telescope was built here on Manchester University owned land in 1957. 60 years ago next year.
Jodrell Bank was first used by Manchester University's Department of Botany in 1939. The name of the site came from a slight rise on Jodrell land called Jodrell Bank. The local land was purchased from two very old established Norman families, the Leighs and the Massey's .This land was used for what became known as the Lovell Telescope after the scientist Bernard Lovell.
Today Jodrell Bank is a world famous centre for astronomy, tracking signals and sounds from stars and planets.
- Jodrell Bank Cheshire53.23752001078766, -2.3088836669921875
The Discovery Centre
The Discovery Centre is the starting point. It is modern, clean and welcoming. As we went further in to start the visit, lights above our heads reminded us of stars. A pleasing touch.
Above, The Orrery
An Orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system showing its movements and positions of all the parts in relation to each other. At Jodrell Bank, the orrery is on the ceiling above your head. It is very interesting as it shows a 13th star sign Ophiucus. This is placed between Scorpio and Sagittarius on the sky map. The Sun is in the centre.
OPH can be seen in the right hand picture.
Hands on activitites for visitors
Jodrell Bank has plenty to do when you get there.
Here are just some of the hands on science activities. There are some outside and inside. It is possible to stand inside the Big Bang exhibit and hear the BANG.
The Whispering Gallery has another dish about 100 feet away. The sound carries from one to another because of the curves of the dishes.
I am not a scientist so I don't know what this is but it was a very popular exhibit for obvious reasons. It was amazing! And beautiful at the same time.
The Control Room is a modest place. All those super brains working in there and it is just a modest little backwater.
Once the science parts of Jodrell Bank have been exhausted, there are still the beautiful woodlands and gardens. Refer back to the first paragraph, ... Jodrell was once part of Manchester University's Botany Department.
It is a lovely half day out this one. Go if you are in Cheshire any time.
Comments
VeronicaFeb 9, 2026
VeronicaFeb 9, 2026
DerdriuMarrinerFeb 9, 2026
Might you and your husband and your family have managed to matter as "part of the ticket allocation"?
frankbeswickJul 7, 2017
VeronicaJul 7, 2017
It's a very posh hamlet even now.
Surnames indeed date from much later and generally fall into a few categories, e.g. place names such as Lincoln , Father's name- eg Dawson, occupation - Smith , Turner, Carpenter, location names -e.g. Ford, Bridge, physical attributes - e.g. Large, Redhead
Big Bro... I think a Wizzley page on surnames may be of interest. Over to you. :)
frankbeswickJul 7, 2017
VeronicaJul 7, 2017
My grandson in the orange coat loves Jodrell Bank. ( isn't he just scrumptious ! ) We have been taking him there since babyhood.
The spaces noises that the telescope picks up re relayed through headphones in the Visitors' Centre. They are crackly and sometimes buzzy... very much like when tuning in an old radio. Just generic space radio waves I suppose.
Regarding Twemlow, it sounds very old English to me. "Low" in old British places usually signifies a small rounded hill. Twem would be two . Therefore as an old English name which would have come in the 5th C onwards, Twemlow would mean approximately ...place of two rounded hills.
DerdriuMarrinerJul 7, 2017
VeronicaApr 22, 2016
When my oldest son and his wife come up from London they say the difference in Cheshire air is noticeable.
sandyspiderApr 22, 2016
frankbeswickApr 9, 2016
VeronicaApr 9, 2016
William Jauderell has a Wiki page. They were of Norman origin.
frankbeswickApr 9, 2016
But Jaudrell would have had a life other than archery.As one of Norman stock he would not have been a serf, but most likely from a family of franklins or tradesmen. Franklins were free farmers rather than serfs who rented land from the aristocracy. Leaving the family farm or trade to go on what was basically an armed robbery in another country was a common way for younger sons to behave at that time. Nice chap!
VeronicaApr 9, 2016
Of course I am a history geek at heart but this was a visit to a scientific location. It is a lovely place and we have been visiting it for over 30 years.
Our national TV company BBC, does "Stargazing" programmes from there. I always apply for tickets but have never been successful; I'd be delighted if I was part of the ticket allocation. It would make my day.
blackspanielgalleryApr 8, 2016