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30 November 1935: the first stone is laid, at the new transmitter centre at Louvetot (20 km to the south of Fécamp) in the presence of Georges Mandel, minister of the PTT. On the right: M. Le Grand.  



 
The transmitting centre of Louvetot is completed. Notice the feeder (conduct in copper) at the foot of the mast.



The site of Louvetot, on plot of 3 hectares, is just right. The entrepreneur, Edward Fontaine, is a Fecamp local and has the president's backing. He erects the 53 m long building, which comprise four floors, above huge cellars and tanks. On the ground floor, is a machine room and shop; on the first floor, is the transmitter, accumulators, a laboratory and an emergency studio. In the turret nearby, is the managers’ office. On the second floor: comfortable accommodation for technical staff and above, a vast attic. 











The 25 kilowatts SFR transmitter
 
12 December 1938, the installation is finished in Louvetot, as well as the new studios in Caudebec. Broadcasts cease from Fécamp, and start in Louvetot on a wavelength of 274 meters. Broadcasting from 6.30 a.m. to 1/ 2 a.m. in the morning.
The new station will be opened officially on 4 June 1939, but broadcasts will cease September 7, at the outbreak of World War II. 



 

Excerpt from
the presentation booklet :

At the beginning of 1934 the application for the wave band of Lucerne was almost disastrous for Radio Normandy. It was cut to
minimum power on wave band
of 200 m.
M. Mistler, minister of PTT allowed Fécamp to use the wave length of the Tour Eiffel, 206m, which was disused. Radio Fécamp is known worldwide, thanks to international nightly concerts continuing until 2/ 3 am in the morning and is the longest running radio station in Europe. Broadcasts begin at 7 am and close at 8.45, open at 10.30am and close at 2pm,
re-open at 3.30pm and close at 3am. On Sundays, the station is on air continuously. It is an excellent radio
station and composed of listeners, who manage the station and organize concerts. Listeners of Radio Normandy,
pay a subscription of 15 francs per year, to be association members, and will participate in the running of Radio Normandy. The station, created and run by listeners,
for listeners. 

* A law dated 7 July 1935
allows the relocation of the station
to Caudebec-en-Caux, as
Fécamp is too small.

In Fécamp, the station is fed by aerial cables and transmission is difficult during storms. In future, cables will run underground six kms, connecting Caudebec-en-Caux with Paris - Rouen Le Havre".

(Interview of F. Le Grand by the Newspaper of Fécamp 20 August 1935) 





The entrance
and generators below. 

The two Blackstones alternators of 220 CV
providing 300 amps under 220 volts in the powerhouse

 
















 

Radio Normandy is quite unique. Mr. Fernand Le Grand wanted to blend in the regional Norman character with the modern buildings, transforming one of the prettiest castles on the banks of the river Seine. The radio aerial has to be placed at one of the highest points in the country of Caux. The castle for the Caudebec studios, is close to the road in the valley where underground cables lay. Aircraft factories are close by and seaplanes will replace cars and railways soon. Technicians, artists, and celebrities will be able to travel there quickly. Sports, political, religious or other recordings will be broadcast. Caudebec-Louvetot is situated in the heart of Normandy, ensuring broadcasts of the highest quality and reception. In 1938, the association of Listeners of Radio Normandy groups totalled more than 32,000 members in : Abbeville, Amiens, Bayeux, Berck, Boulogne, Caen, Calais, Yvetot, Cherbourg, Trouville, Deauville, Dieppe, Dunkerque, Honfleur, Fécamp, Le Crotoy, Le Havre, LeTréport, Rouen, St-Valéry-sur-Somme. 

  Click on the picture for watch the booklet  PDF format

For the first days of broadcasting from Louvetot new transmitter, a presentation booklet (in french) with photos has been published in 1938.