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Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, Cornwall
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Eastern House
Porthcurno
Penzance
TR19 6JX
Cornwall
England
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The museum is Family Friendly
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Collection details
Archaeology, Archives, Industry, Maritime, Photography, Science and Technology, Social History, Sport, Weapons and War
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Contact details
main museum reception/info. desk (Tel)
:
01736 810966
office (Tel)
:
01736 810478
education officer (Tel)
:
01736 810592
main museum reception/info. desk (Fax)
:
01736 811914
office (Fax)
:
01736 810640
Curator/Collections and Research information
:
info@porthcurno.org.uk
Front of House Manager
:
caroline.seats@porthcurno.org.uk
Education Officer
:
lesleyallen@porthcurno.org.uk
Website
:
www.porthcurno.org.uk
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Open
Until March 10 2008: Sun & Mon only 10.00 - 17.00pm
From 16 March 2008 open daily, 10.00 - 17.00, except late night Weds May - September , until 19.30pm.
and other times by appointment.
Last admission 1 hour before closing time.
We welcome group bookings outside normal opening hours. Please call 01736 810966
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Closed
Christmas, New Year and winter half-term opening may vary. Please ring for details.
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Admission charges
£4.95 adult, £2.75 child, £4.40 concessions, £12 family (2 adults and up to three children
10% off for groups of 10 or more
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Discounts
Museums Association
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Description
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 and 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.
Visitors to the museum today can find out all about the Victorian internet and the secret communications of World War II. They can also find out about the social history of the parish of St Levan in our local history centre.
On your visit you can also picnic in our garden, book a tennis court or take a 5 minute stroll along the cable trail to the beautiful National Trust beach and coastal path.
New for 2007 is an exhibition entitled 'Early Days at Porthcurno', which looks at the period between 1870 and the start of WW1.
There will also be a variety of special events, including family activities, lectures and workshops.
“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.”
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Collections description
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.
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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.
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Articles
Tessa Jowell Welcomes BT Connected Earth Project
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Available resources
Communication Outreach Workshop
Handling collection or artefacts; Online game or interactive; Taught session (schools); Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Electrifying Victorians
Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Sound science
Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Tunnels and Telegrams
Handling collection or artefacts; Workshop or activity session (Resource)
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General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
Parking for coaches
Guided tours
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Collections
General guide to collections available
Specialist publications on collections available
Object identification and/or written enquiry service
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Public access available to collections information
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Disability Access
Events/teaching/resources for people with disabilities
Parking for disabled available
Toilets for disabled
Touch exhibits and/or handling sessions
Wheelchair access to all public areas
Wheelchair access to some public areas
Wheelchairs available for loan
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Children and Families
Activities for pre-school children
Baby changing facilities
Children's play area
Events and resources for children and families
Gardens open to public
Picnic area
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General Education
Academic publications and resources available
Adult lectures and courses held
Education facilities available
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students
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Schools Education
Direct teaching services for schools
Primary school education service available
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
Secondary school education service available
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Facilities
Facilities for private functions and events
Gardens open to public
Library
Mail order service available
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Picnic area
Refreshments
Research facilities for academics
Shop
Study facilities
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Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.
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