Pebble Mill in Edgbaston, Birmingham was the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s base in the Midlands from 1971 to 2004, and developed a name as a strong producer of factual programmes, including Top Gear, The Clothes Show, Countryfile and Gardeners' World. Its name became familiar to viewers across the country through the daily lunchtime chat show Pebble Mill at One (1972-1996) presented from the foyer of the studios. It was also the home of the long-running radio soap The Archers.
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ acquired the lease for the nine-acre Pebble Mill site in 1951, but progress was slow - a model for the building was presented to the UK press in 1962, but construction only began in 1967. In the meantime, production continued at the small Gosta Green studios. The new Birmingham Broadcasting Centre was opened by HRH Princess Anne on the 10th November 1971. The site had eight floors of offices, TV and Radio studios, two canteens and was well-known for its gardens.
Pebble Mill's cavernous colour studios, particular the huge Studio A, made it popular for taping dramas in the era when dramas were produced in multi-camera setups. These included All Creatures Great and Small, Boys from the Blackstuff, Doctors, Dangerfield, Triangle, Howards' Way, Juliet Bravo, The Brothers and Dalziel and Pascoe and children's programmes such as Rentaghost.
However, changes in the way dramas were produced and a strategy to move production to two hubs in Bristol and Salford Quays meant the large Pebble Mill complex became surplus to requirement. ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Midlands Today and The Archers moved to the smaller Mailbox buildings in central Birmingham in 2005 and the site was demolished. Meanwhile drama production was moved to the new Drama Village at Selly Oak.
Links
- 
        
        The day Pebble Mill studio opened in 1971 Tom Coyne presents the first edition of Midlands Today from Pebble Mill in June 1971. Clip taken from Nationwide, first broadcast 15 June 1971
- 
        
        Memories of Pebble Mill Emma North reports on the treasured memories conjured by the building on Midlands Today, 22 October 2004.
Buildings
- 
              Alexandra PalaceThe birthplace of television
- 
              Broadcasting HouseThe first purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK
- 
              Broadcasting House, BelfastÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern Ireland's headquarters since 1941
- 
              Broadcasting House, BristolFormer home of the Natural History Unit
- 
              Broadcasting House, CardiffThe ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s first bespoke headquarters in Wales
- 
              Bush HouseÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ of the World Service 1940-2012
- 
              Camden Palace TheatreLight entertainment and music from North London
- 
              Caversham ParkListening to the world, 1943 to 2018
- 
              Ealing StudiosThe ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Television Film Studios
- 
              Elstree StudiosÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ of EastEnders
- 
              Lime GroveA temporary measure for 42 years
- 
              Kingswood WarrenFormer home of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Research & Development
- 
              The LanghamSustaining the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ during World War 2 and after
- 
              Maida ValeThe best acoustic in London
- 
              35 Marylebone High StreetThe first headquarters of the Radio Times and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio London.
- 
              MediaCityUKThe ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Northern base in Salford
- 
              Pacific QuayHeadquarters of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Scotland
- 
              Paris StudiosFormer London cinema which hosted The Beatles and Dad's Army
- 
              Pebble MillA hub for drama, entertainment and factual programmes in Birmingham between 1971 and 2004
- 
              Queen's House, WC2Centre of English language learning
- 
              Riverside StudiosA film studio regenerated into a TV studio used by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ from 1954 to 1975
- 
              Savoy HillThe first home of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
- 
              Television CentreThe Television Factory
- 
              Television TheatreA mecca for the stars of the 1960s
- 
              Wood NortonThe emergency broadcasting centre
