Alum Bay, Isle of Wight (1897) : Marconi's first wireless station

Guglielmo Marconi revolutionised communications with his radio system and he made most of his early experiments at Alum Bay, Isle of Wight. Alum Bay was a deserted and beautiful stretch of coastline that provided open water straight to the mainland just as far as his equipment's top range.
Marconi established his first radio station in sight of the famous 'Needles', where he managed to transmit to two hired ferryboats and another station in Bournemouth.
Then, in August 1898, Marconi was invited by Queen Victoria to demonstrate his equipment aboard the Royal Yacht. During his presentation he amazed his audience by contacting the royal home at Osborne House and the Alum Bay station.
Alum Bay may have helped launch wireless but this didn't impress the inventor's landlord, the Royal Needles Hotel, which raised his rent. Marconi's dismantled the station at the end of May 1900 and moved further down the coast and instead Alum Bay was destined to be stormed by day-trippers every summer.