Porthcurno Telegraph Museum

TR19 6JX Porthcurno, Penzance, Great Britain (UK) (Cornwall)

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum:
Following the closure of the Porthcurno Telegraph Station and training school, many important objects were at risk of being lost forever.

Thanks to a small group of passionate individuals with connections to Porthcurno, these historically significant objects were saved, and formed the basis of the museum’s unique collection. The collection now has Designated status in recognition of its national and international significance. It is one of only two collections in Cornwall to be awarded this status.

The collection is incredibly diverse, ranging from the museum buildings themselves to documents, artworks, photographs, working telegraph equipment and maps. It also includes the business archive of Cable & Wireless, which is an important resource for academics and family historians around the world.

From the invention of electricity and Morse code, to fibre optics and future technology, our award- winning museum combines the wonder of science with amazing histories and tales of human endeavor from around the globe, right here where the story of communications began.

Eastern House

From its construction in 1904, Eastern House was at the heart of the Porthcurno telegraph station site. After World War Two, the building was refurbished, extended, and opened as a training school. In 1970, exactly 100 years after the arrival of the first cable, the telegraph station closed, but the training school remained open until 1993.

Today, Eastern House forms a major part of the PK Porthcurno experience. Its spacious gallery houses a series of interactive exhibits and displays which illustrate the story of our communications revolution, while in our demonstration zone, staff discuss and demonstrate some of the museum’s original working equipment at regular talks throughout the day. Just ask a member of staff for timings.

Visit the Cable Hut

The Cable Hut stands just above the sandy beach at Porthcurno. Built in 1929, this modest little building is where undersea telegraph cables came ashore from all corners of the world.

The Cable Hut is the only one of its kind complete with original features and fittings and contains the largest collection of historic telegraph cables and termination boxes in the world.

Please note that due to the extremely delicate nature of the equipment in the Cable Hut we regret that it is not possible to open it in poor weather. Please check with staff as to whether the Cable Hut has been opened.

Secret WW2 Bunker

Go underground and explore the top-secret bunker that hid the Porthcurno Telegraph Station in World War II, where Allied communications were protected by armed guard and bomb-proof doors.

Find out how the war transformed the valley and the lives of the people who lived and worked here. Come and see the unexploded bomb that fell on a Porthcurno farm and hear stories of the Cable and Wireless staff who worked at Porthcurno and at cable stations around the world. Find out about the daring work needed to keep cableships operating and discover the important role telegrams played in the war.

Our Grade II listed underground telegraphy station includes an automated relay station and wireless room, and a door to the bunker’s secret escape tunnel, 120 steps hewn through solid granite, built in case the telegraph station was invaded by enemy forces.

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