PK Porthcurno

PK Porthcurno

Since 1870 Porthcurno has been a hub of global communications: discover Cornwall's hidden story and amazing global connections through hands-on exhibitions and live demonstrations, and step back in time in Porthcurno's famous World War Two bunker. Explore the science that made world communications possible, from the first undersea telegraph cables brought ashore at Porthcurno 150 years ago to the fascinating world of fibre optics and find out how today’s digital communications are changing the world forever.

Gold Winner: 2020/21 Unsung Hero Award, Cornwall Tourism Awards. Silver Winner: 2019/20 Small Attraction of the Year, Cornwall Tourism Awards. Silver Winner: Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 2015, South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

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  • Presentation case of telegraph cable samples from 1870

    Porthcurno's first undersea telegraph cable arrived in 1870 and went to Bombay via Carcavelos, Gibraltar, Malta, Suez and Aden. These cable samples come from that route. The telegraph changed the way we communicate; messages could now cross oceans in minutes rather than months.

  • 'Exiles' sporting trophy from 1924

    There are lots of sporting trophies in our museum, and even more in our archives. As telegraph workers often worked in isolated parts of the world they called themselves 'Exiles', and set up all kinds of sports clubs and competitions.

  • Model of the cable ship 'Edward Wilshaw'

    Cable ships are a big part of our story. Some could carry thousands of miles of telegraph cables which they laid on the ocean floor, and others repaired broken cables. The cable ship Edward Wilshaw was built in 1949 for cable repair and was in use up to the 1970s.

  • Keyboard perforator, part of the 'Regen' telegraph system

    The Regenerator System (Regen) is amongst our star objects because it's still in working order. You can see and hear it whirring and clicking away in the WW2 tunnels. It's actually a group of machines which worked together to boost and resend signals on long-distance cables.

Admission & prices

Please visit our website to book tickets. There is no charge to reserve your tickets, but admission charges will apply on arrival at the museum.

ADMISSION PRICES
£9.00 Adult

£5.50 Children under 18 (under 5s are free)

£8.00 Student

£26.00 Family (2 adults and up to three under 18s)

2021 OPENING TIMES
17 May – 31 October
Open Daily
10:00 – 17:00
Last admission one hour before close.

Find us

From Penzance take the Land's End road (A30), turn left to St Buryan, then follow the brown signs to Porthcurno Telegraph Museum. The museum car park is opposite the Cable Station Inn.

Museum news

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Information

  • Parking available
  • Toilets On-Site
  • Wheelchair access
  • Cafe on-site
  • Childrens activities
  • Gift Shop

Disabled parking is located at the main museum entrance and is signposted from the main road.
Please note that the escape steps in the World War Two bunker are not accessible to wheelchair users.

Access to Porthcurno's archive must be booked in advance by contacting the Collections Team: 01736 811918.

For workshops and outreach sessions for schools, colleges and community groups, please contact the Learning Team on 01736 811914.

PK Porthcurno
Eastern House
Porthcurno
Penzance
TR19 6JX

T: 01736 810966
E: info@pkporthcurno.com

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PK Porthcurno

PK Porthcurno
Eastern House
Porthcurno
Penzance, CORNWALL TR19 6JX