Porthcurno Telegraph Museum

Porthcurno in Cornwall is one of the UK's most important historic communications sites and home to the award-winning Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, housed in an underground Second World War building.

In 1870 when the beautiful valley of Porthcurno first became a communications centre, pioneering engineers were just beginning to create their own ‘Victorian Internet’. Using the most advanced technology of their day, they laid a telegraph cable network which transformed the speed of communication to the British Empire and beyond. Porthcurno was at the centre of this Imperial network where the cables were landed on the soft sandy beach.

By the Second World War, Porthcurno’s communications centre had become so important that it was moved into a bomb-proof, gas-proof underground building. From here, vital secret messages were transmitted around the world. Today, the tunnels house the museum in which you can see working equipment from the Victorian age and Second World War.

The 'Early Days at Porthcurno' exhibition looks at the period between 1870 and the start of WW1. Visitors can also find out about the social history of the parish of St Levan in our local history centre.

Visitors can also picnic in our scultpre gardens, book a tennis court or take a 5 minute stroll along the cable trail to the beautiful National Trust beach and coastal path.

Special events take place throughout the year, including family activities, lectures and workshops. Many of our events are free.

“Very good – we enjoyed the hands on stuff and would like to learn how to do Morse Code – easier than texting on a mobile! (when you are over 40 anyway!)”

“Just like it was on the Discovery Channel. Now we’ve seen it for real.”

The Museum has Designated Collections of national and international importance.

Additional info

Museum shop & cafe area
Outdoor picnic area
Free sculpture gardens open 365 days a year
Large car park (free in winter months)
Tennis courts for hire
Classroom facility
Meeting/conference facilities for hire

The core collection of submarine telegraphy objects and the historic archive collections of key international telegraph cable companies are Designated Collections of national importance.

These collections of archives and objects in their original setting, tell the story of the development of international communication that changed the world. In 1870, Porthcurno began its life as an important centre of international communications, as it was in this year that a chain of telegraph cables linking Britain with India was completed. Porthcurno was chosen as the landing point for the British end of this cable link. At its height, Porthcurno was the world's largest cable station, with 14 telegraph cables in operation.

The world's best specialist collection of telegraph equipment and technology. Technical collections mostly 1850 - 1950. Social history and ephemeral items relating to the evolution of the undersea electric telegraph. Local Parish history collection. Archive of Cable & Wireless covering telegraph businesses from 1860 - 1970s. Some material relating to the devleopent of radio, specifically at Porthcurno. Extensive photographic collection of local history, technical history and British Empire. Local archaeology.

Collection details

Weapons and War, Sport, Social History, Science and Technology, Photography, Maritime, Industry, Archives, Archaeology

Key artists and exhibits

• Models and material/archives from Brunel's Great Eastern. Working World War II Telegraph station in World War II underground building.
• Designated Collection