Bushy Hill (aka "Radar Hill")
Bushy Hill is technically part of South Woodham Ferrers and lies to the north of the town. It was also known locally as landslip hill, the upper face of it having slid away to reveal an escarpment overlooking South Woodham Ferrers. The West face of Bushy Hill was covered in broad leafed woodland and known locally as 'Little Wood'. 'Big Wood', officially named Hawe's Wood and also known as 'Bluebell Wood' is further over near Edwin's Hall. Later the hill became known locally as "Radar Hill" due to having been visually dominated by a radar testing site. This site was operated by a number of the former Marconi companies including Alenia Marconi Systems, and more recently (currently?) operated by BAE Systems in the process of developing various radar technologies, some of which is for military orientated projects. While the site remains in use, the large dish which earned the hill its nickname has since been removed. Online mapping services such as Google Maps clearly show the site in use, including a "H" pad is located there for the landing of helicopters. The public footpath around the site passes the entrance sign warning of "helicopters landing, danger of radiation" and other such dangers associated with a working radar testing site. The actual inner workings of the site are well secured with a security gatehouse, anti-climb heras fencing and a number of well placed CCTV cameras. Bushy Hill was also known locally, before Marconi came to use it, as "Landslip Hill", referring to the south face of the hill which has slid away leaving a bare escarpment, clearly visible from the village. From the west-side of the present Marconi site, trailing off towards Edwin's Hall, is a woodland of mature trees, sometimes called "Bluebell Wood". During snowy winters, Bushy Hill is very popular for sledging.
Read more about this topic: South Woodham Ferrers, History
Famous quotes containing the words bushy, hill and/or radar:
“Some dead undid their bushy jaws,
And bags of blood let out their flies;
He had by heart the Christ-cross-row of death.
Sleep navigates the tides of time;
The dry Sargasso of the tomb
Gives up its dead to such a working sea....”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)
“This sanguine coward, this bed-presser, this horse-back-
breaker, this huge hill of flesh.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“So I begin to understand why my mother’s radar is so sensitive to criticism. She still treads the well-worn ruts of her youth, when her impression of mother was of a woman hard to please, frequently negative, and rarely satisfied with anyone—least of all herself.”
—Melinda M. Marshall (20th century)