The Riverside Studios at Hammersmith, London started life as an iron foundry and had been converted into a film studio in 1933. The site, with its two large studio spaces was purchased by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in 1954 from the Alliance Film Company, initially as a temporary measure while the equipment at the studios at Lime Grove was being upgraded.
Amongst the first programmes made there was Hancock's Half Hour, as the show demanded a studio audience which Riverside could accommodate. A delay to the construction of Television Centre meant it remained remained a useful facility and it was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother in 1957.
During the 1950s and 60s it was the recording location for some famous programmes, including the science-fiction classic Quatermass and the Pit, early episodes of Doctor Who (including First Doctor's regeneration from William Hartnell to Patrick Troughton), and children's favourite Play School. The rooftop also provided a handy vantage point over the Thames for covering the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race.
The whole complex was in regular use until the early 1970s when additional studios were completed at Television Centre. The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ moved out in 1975, and a charitable trust formed by Hammersmith and Fulham Council took over. The site is currently undergoing redevelopment.
Further reading
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The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Riverside Television Studios: Some Aspects of Technical Planning and Equipment 1954 monograph by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Research and Development
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Doctor Who: The Regeneration Game ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Genome Blog by Andrew Martin
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History of the site from the new Riverside Studios redevelopment website
Buildings
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Alexandra Palace
The birthplace of television -
Broadcasting House
The first purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK -
Broadcasting House, Belfast
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern Ireland's headquarters since 1941 -
Broadcasting House, Bristol
Former home of the Natural History Unit -
Broadcasting House, Cardiff
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s first bespoke headquarters in Wales -
Bush House
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ of the World Service 1940-2012 -
Camden Palace Theatre
Light entertainment and music from North London -
Caversham Park
Listening to the world, 1943 to 2018 -
Ealing Studios
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Television Film Studios -
Elstree Studios
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ of EastEnders -
Lime Grove
A temporary measure for 42 years -
Kingswood Warren
Former home of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Research & Development -
The Langham
Sustaining the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ during World War 2 and after -
Maida Vale
The best acoustic in London -
35 Marylebone High Street
The first headquarters of the Radio Times and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio London. -
MediaCityUK
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Northern base in Salford -
Pacific Quay
Headquarters of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Scotland -
Paris Studios
Former London cinema which hosted The Beatles and Dad's Army -
Pebble Mill
A hub for drama, entertainment and factual programmes in Birmingham between 1971 and 2004 -
Queen's House, WC2
Centre of English language learning -
Riverside Studios
A film studio regenerated into a TV studio used by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ from 1954 to 1975 -
Savoy Hill
The first home of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ -
Television Centre
The Television Factory -
Television Theatre
A mecca for the stars of the 1960s -
Wood Norton
The emergency broadcasting centre