Day Trips, Family Activities, History & Heritage

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum

Telegraph Museum Porthcurno, Eastern House, Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall, UK, TR19 6JX
Telegraph Museum Interior 2
Email
t. 01736 810966
  • Overview
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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; it is the only complete cable station in the world. 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.

Facilities

  • Museum
  • Exhibitions spaces
  • Demonstration area
  • Archive, search room & learning space
  • Café
  • Shop
  • Toilets

Accessibility

Full accessibility guide

Opening times

Summer opening times (March 31 – October 31)

Daily 10am – 5pm (last admission 4pm)

Winter opening times (Novermber 1 – March 31)

Sat, Sun, Mon 11am – 4.30pm (last admission 3.30pm)

Admissions

  • Adult £8.50
  • Children (aged 5 – 16) £5
  • Children (under 5) Free
  • Family (two adults and three children aged 5 – 16) £23.50
  • Senior £7.50
  • Student £6

Local directions

Telegraph Museum Porthcurno is situated in the village of Porthcurno in west Cornwall. It tells the story of the development of the electric and wireless telegraph and Porthcurno’s place at its centre. The museum is mainly sited in Eastern House, the home of the old telegraph station. There are further exhibitions spaces in the adjacent WW2 tunnels, built into the cliffs in 1941.

The museum’s archive and research facilities are housed in the Wilshaw Building, approximately 100 metres to the south of Eastern House.  The grounds around Eastern House and the Wilshaw Building are open to the public and incorporate a sculpture garden and Cable Trail.

Dog-friendly

Unfortunately due to the delicate nature of the equipment within the museum we cannot allow dogs into the exhibition spaces. However dogs are welcomed on the Café terrace and to take part in the new Valley Tales & Trails Exhibition.

Awards

  • Gold Best Museum, Art and Industrial Heritage Attraction – Cornwall Tourism Awards 2014/15
  • Silver Best Small Visitor Attraction – South West Tourism Awards 2015
  • Bronze Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2013
  • Gold Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Cornwall Tourism Awards 2012
  • Best Site – AIA 2011
  • Top 50 Museum – The Independent 2010
  • Family Friendly Award – Kids in Museums long list 2009

Also around

Porthmeor Beach

Under the shadow of The Island, the east side of Porthmeor has some well-stocked rockpools.

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum

Award-winning museum and visitor attraction in Cornwall. Set in the world's largest telegraph cable station. A brilliant family-friendly day out.