Porthcurno Telegraph Museum is now closed for development work. We are
installing new visitor facilities, including a new cafe, and exciting
new exhibitions. We look forward to welcoming you back in summer 2014.
The technology behind communication has changed the world. Mobiles,
fibre optics, the World Wide Web, radio and television would not have
been possible without the development of the telegraph and early
wireless technology.
We are here to tell part of this story; from the first use of
electricity to how we communicate today. How cable communication and
early wireless technology came to change our perceptions and our
everyday lives.
Our heritage
Porthcurno has a unique historic provenance: this is where the
telegraph cables that linked Britain with its Empire and other nations
came ashore. The valley was the hub of international cable
communications from 1870-1970 and also training college for the
communications industry until 1993. Porthcurno was the largest cable station in the world.
Our collection is unique in its completeness. We have the only
working cable station (complete in all details except the actual cable)
in the world. We also have all the supporting materials and associated
ephemera that are rarely preserved with such collections. Porthcurno
also had one of the earliest commercial wireless stations in 1902 so we
are able to show the emerging competition between cable and wireless
technology.
The ethos of the museum is to have as much as possible to be
demonstrated in working order. To keep the collections working we rely
on the knowledge and support of a dedicated team of volunteers.
The role of the cable station and the training school at Porthcurno
has had a significant impact on the valley and local communities. The
museum is now a focus for representing local history as well as communications technology.
- Plenty of parking for cars and coaches (small charge in main season)
- Guide dogs welcome
- Ice-cream, snacks, cold drinks and tea/coffee/hot chocolate are available in the museum shop
- The nearby Cable Station Inn and Beach Cafe also offer food and drinks throughout the main season
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