Originally designed as a radar base, the capabilities of the station were upgraded during the Cold War to monitor and intercept communications from "unfriendly nations". It was during the 1970s that the base started to arouse the suspicions of civilian investigators after it fell under the auspices of the shadowy US National Security Agency in 1966 (although the site had been available to US Forces as far back as 1955).
The NSA is the USA's specialist cryptological division, involved in the interception and analysis of foreign communications. Today, it is commonly depicted in popular culture alongside the CIA as a sinister force within the US security community. In truth, its functions are mainly dry and highly specialist, but remain highly controversial - being the subject of much speculation in terms of both capability and intent. A report published by the Sunday Times in 1998 declared that the base played host to 1400 staff - including physicists, scientists and linguists - plus their families, all of whom live on their base. In addition, a further 370 RAF personnel were said to be stationed at the base.
What the purpose of the facilities and the attendant staff is remains wreathed in secrecy. Officially, the base is engaged in 'communications relay' but that is almost certainly euphemistic, given the security surrounding the base. The base's official site contents itself with the careful disclaimer that: "Tasks are managed in a way that accords with the law, including the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Human Rights Act 1998."
An EU investigation into the base found that the US was deploying the capability to eavesdrop on potentially any electronic communication (although the capability does not necessarily mean that the resources exist to actually do so) - the so-called ECHELON system of signals intelligence. Menwith Hill is one of the key pieces of intelligence infrastructure in Europe and perhaps the largest "spy base" in the world.
Er, you have to be careful if you want to photograph the "golf balls". This site is apparently one of the most secret in the world. The security is immense. The road that passes round the outside of all the different layers of tall razor wire tipped fences and hundreds of motion, sound, infra red, heat seeking cameras is constantly patrolled on the outside too. It is difficult to find the smallest gap through the tall hedges and trees that form a boundary before the fences and cameras, but to just stop your car to look will mean that the Police will interrogate you on your business. Special laws apply that give the Police extra powers and photographers can expect a tough grilling, search of their car, examination of their equipment and memory cards as experienced by other flickr members. Technically a photograph of the site from outside the perimeter could be construed as commiting an offence, most of which carry severe penalties.
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