Terms and Conditions

Website Use

By using our site, you confirm that you accept these terms of use and that you agree to comply with them.

Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information contained on the website is accurate at the time of publication. However, PK Porthcurno cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information contained on the website and shall not be responsible for errors or inaccuracies, or actions arising therefrom. Our site may be updated from time to time as and when it, or the information contained, becomes out of date. PK Porthcurno is under no obligation to update it, and our site may be out of date in any particular at any time. PK Porthcurno shall not be liable for any reliance by you on any information which is made available on our website.

Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the website or its contents in any form for commercial purposes is prohibited without written consent from PK Porthcurno. Website content may be used for personal or educational purposes, given that PK Porthcurno is credited as the source.

PK Porthcurno reserves the right to require the removal of any link to our website on any third-party website or platform. PK Porthcurno is not responsible for the content or reliability of linked websites and does not guarantee that linked websites are accessible and free from viruses or other malware. PK Porthcurno shall not be liable for any damage to your computer equipment or software which may occur on account of your access to or use of our website, files downloaded therefrom or websites accessed by links therein.

If you book tickets via our website, our booking terms and conditions will apply.

Advance bookings and ticket purchases

This website and its content is © PK Porthcurno 2021. By making a booking through our site, you confirm that you accept these terms and conditions and that you agree to be bound by them.

Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information contained on the website is accurate at the time of publication. However, PK Porthcurno cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information contained on the website and shall not be responsible for errors or inaccuracies, or actions arising therefrom. Our site may be updated from time to time as and when it, or the information contained, becomes out of date. PK Porthcurno is under no obligation to update it, and our site may be out of date in any particular at any time. PK Porthcurno shall not be liable for any reliance by you on any information which is made available on our website.

Tickets cannot be booked without confirmation that you have read, understood and accepted these terms, and agree to be bound by them. These terms and conditions may be changed from time to time. You are required to confirm your acceptance of the current terms at the time your booking is made. PK Porthcurno holds no liability for loss or costs incurred by you due to changes since you previously read the terms and conditions.

Tickets are not transferrable. A booking is for a given date and half-hour arrival window and is valid for the group size and make-up specified at the time of booking. Ticket allocation is strictly limited and additional visitors accompanying booked ticket holders will only be admitted if there is sufficient unbooked capacity. No refund will be made or offered on tickets if there is insufficient capacity to add to the group size, or for any other reason, except at the discretion of PK Porthcurno.

In the event that tickets have been purchased for a lower tariff group than seek admission, (e.g. 2 adults with a booking for 1 adult and 1 under-18), the full cost of the extra ticket must be paid in order to gain admission.

Should a booking be made for more people than required no refund shall be given under any circumstances, except at the discretion of PK Porthcurno.

Arrival at the museum reception desk outside your allocated arrival window may result in your being refused entry. No refund is available in this instance. Your booking may be transferred to a later time if space is available – this is entirely at the discretion of PK Porthcurno and does not signify a right of admission at a time other than on your booking.

A full refund will be provided if the museum should have to close unexpectedly, due to an emergency or any other unforeseen circumstance.

Booking an admission ticket does not automatically guarantee you a parking space. PK Porthcurno holds no responsibility for ensuring parking is available, and no liability should you be unable to find a space. Visitors are required to allow sufficient time to find parking and to get to the museum therefrom. Unavailability of parking does not entitle a ticket holder to transfer, defer or cancel their booking and no refund will be given in this instance.  

PK Porthcurno is a no-smoking venue. This extends to the café terrace, escape stairs viewing platform and all indoor spaces.

Well-behaved dogs are permitted in Eastern House (the main museum building), including in the café. We regret dogs are not permitted in the bunker. PK Porthcurno reserves the right to refuse to admit dogs who in our judgement are unruly or unreasonably dirty. No refunds will be offered if a visitor chooses not to visit because we have refused entry to their dog(s).

The price of your ticket will be as quoted at the time of booking. Subsequent changes to prices will not apply.

Eligibility for discounted tickets must be declared at the time of booking by selecting the appropriate discount. Bookings made without such declaration cannot subsequently be discounted at the time of entry to the museum. Bookings made where such entitlement has been declared will require proof of entitlement on arrival. Failure to do so will void your booking. If you believe you are eligible for a discount which is not shown on our booking page do not book online, instead, call our booking line on 01736 811913.

Learning and Engagement

Introduction

The Engagement policy sets out our aims and objectives and the standards expected regarding access to our services and replaces the previous ‘Learning and Access Policy’.

This policy covers public engagement provision at PK Porthcurno, which gained full accreditation in 2007.  PK Porthcurno upholds a Diversity Policy and its responsibilities in respect of the Disability Discrimination Acts (1995 & 2005), Equality Act (2010), Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, and other statutory workplace legislation.

This policy has been produced in conjunction with the Arts Council’s Inspiring Learning for All framework, Kids in Museums Manifesto and Access for All toolkit. This Policy should be read alongside PK Porthcurno Vision.

Definitions

Engagement

[1] Engagement deepens the museum’s connection to the community and beyond.

‘Audience engagement is a form of jumpstart for museums, adding new and alternative perspectives. It works to create a range of positive, stimulating experiences for audiences throughout their visit… including understanding pre- and post-visit experiences, and how to ensure visitors come back again.’

Adam Reed Rozan, museum-id.com.

PK Porthcurno also recognises that our engagement is more than our ticket buying visitors experience and that we need to be reaching out to our audiences and not simply relying on them coming to us.

Access

‘Be accessible to all. Ensure all your visitors are equally supported and welcomed’.

Kids in Museums Manifesto

PK Porthcurno defines access as something that is made possible when physical, sensory, intellectual, cultural, social, attitudinal, financial, and technological barriers are removed. Enabling all visitors to engage provides opportunity for a broader audience and a feeling of ownership.

Learning

‘Learning is a process of active engagement with experience, it is what people do when they want to make sense of the world.  It may involve the development or deepening of skills, knowledge understanding, awareness, values, ideas and feelings, or an increase in the capacity to reflect. Effective learning leads to change, development and the desire to learn more.’

Arts Council, Inspiring Learning for all framework.

This Policy brings the overall aims of engagement into the specific context of PK Porthcurno for the next 5 years with the need for reviewing at the end of the NPO project in April 2022.

PK Porthcurno Vision

Over the next five years we aim to be recognised by our peers as a leading museum experience and visitor attraction in Cornwall and the South West, and as one of the leading institutions of our kind in the world. From the Vision:

PK Porthcurno divides its work into three main areas:

  • Engagement
  • Collections Management 
  • Sustainability

All these support access as the overall aim.

Partnerships and Outreach:

PK Porthcurno Engagement Aims

In line with the PK Porthcurno Vision our engagement aims:

Extend our reach:

  • We will continue to work with our communities and partners (NT affiliation, CMP, NPO) to identify barriers and broaden our reach, both in person and online.
  • Our new PK Pass will allow for new and existing community groups and local schools to visit that may not have had the resources to do so during 2020.

Collaborate and be flexible:

  • We will collaborate; working with partners, volunteers and artists through commissions to support our collections, displays, formal and informal learning and be open to new ideas.
  • Develop a programme of engagement activity that can flip with a change to the weather and audience as well as being open and responsive to the Planet PK green plan.

Specialise and maximise:

  • Provide high-quality teaching that encourages observation, investigation and interpretation. Build trust and opportunity for ownership.
  • Provide learning opportunities for all visitors through the development of the collections and our valley as a resource for lifelong learning.

Digitalise:

  • Use new technologies as a means of connecting people, reaching new and target audiences, including non-visitors.
  • Digital engagement and the provision of remote access will allow for a sense of ownership that reaches far beyond the white Museum walls and the valley.
  • Promote training and research:
  • Provide all staff, volunteers and stakeholders with the relevant training and information about current issues and practice relating to Engagement.

Policy Statements

Our Audiences

Over time the Museum has developed four audience descriptors which are quite specific to this organisation though in a similar vein to the sort of descriptors that the National Trust have evolved. Our descriptors include:

  • Rainy day/bored kids
  • Know a bit and what to find out more/facilitators
  • Knowledge seekers
  • Own agenda

Our key audiences:

  • Families
  • Adults and Seniors
  • Formal Learning (schools, colleges etc)/Informal learning (Families and Community Groups)
  • Special interest
  • Stakeholders

Barriers to Access

PK Porthcurno recognises there are many different barriers to access and engagement. We aim to reduce the following barriers: physical, sensory, intellectual, social and cultural, organisational and financial.

Our overall aims for access are:

  • To provide a welcoming and friendly environment that is accessible to all.
  • To extend access to PK Porthcurno through flexible opening hours, additional resources, events, and website provision.
  • To provide remote access to our archives and collections.

Physical/sensory

  • Ensure that all public areas of PK Porthcurno are accessible to visitors with physical or sensory disabilities and to provide alternative access to the collections in museum stores and working areas where possible.
  • Ear defender friendly museum- Provide ear defenders at Front of House for any visitors to borrow during their visit.
  • To follow our exhibition design and construction guidelines in the production of all text panels, exhibition guides, catalogues, information leaflets and other printed material.

Intellectual

  • To continue to improve the intellectual accessibility of PK Porthcurno for all.
  • To help visitors access their way round the specialist terminology that often envelops communications history.
  • To provide in-depth access to the collections via one-to-one consultations with staff, surrogate copies of images, research, publications, and presentations.

Social/attitudinal/cultural

  • To consider the access needs of visitors from all social and cultural backgrounds.
  • To engage with representatives from, and open a dialogue with, socially excluded groups to establish how PK Porthcurno can meet their learning and access needs.
  • To improve users’ understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Maths (STEAM) and related subjects through creative exhibitions, events and projects.

Financial

  • To maintain access through providing affordable admission for all visitors, subsidised learning programmes to schools with the NPO projects and PK PASS in 2020 as well as offering concessionary rates[2].
  • Digital
  • To follow established guidelines and standards (such as those outlined in the World Wide Web Consortium [W3C] Web Accessibility Initiative} to ensure that PK Porthcurno’s web pages are accessible to as many users as possible.
  • To work towards providing access to the collections in digital form, with an online catalogue, thesaurus, images, and interpretation [3].
  • To provide both paper and digital catalogues on site for visitors.
  • To ensure that access to all information on our website (and any subsidiary microsites) complies with the Equality Act 2010.

Learning

PK Porthcurno seeks to provide visitors with access to learning and engagement opportunities that are appropriate to their individual learning needs, whilst working within the limits of its financial and staff resources.  With respect to learning, PK Porthcurno’s core audiences are in two categories:

  • Formal learning: Students and teachers/tutors/academics in formal learning organisations from Key Stage 1 to postgraduate level in a range of disciplines and Home Education Groups.
  • Informal learning: Users involved in informal learning including intellectuals, social visitors, families, as well as local history groups, specialist societies and local community groups and organisations.

Our main aims for engagement

Formal learning

  • To establish a regular programme of postgraduate research linked to the Combined Universities of Cornwall and other interested Universities.
  • To deliver hands-on, interactive workshops for formal learning groups as set out in the new PK Learning Pack.
  • To design and deliver education workshops – based on the collection – for use with schools both on site and as an outreach facility.
  • To develop resources to support group visits and access by embedding Health and Wellbeing across our work – pre and post-visit activity suggestions, our newly developed Scavenger Hunt and 5.4.3.2.1 trails for visiting groups, social stories, sensory and stimulation guide and online resources.
  • To provide access to the collections and information to all for teaching and research purposes, both in PK Porthcurno and via the website.
  • To be actively involved with STEM organisations such as the Institute of Physics, Cornwall Science Community etc. to ensure that we remain up to date with current initiatives, offer safe, practical science activities and can contribute to the body of knowledge about STEM education in a museum context.
  • To take an active role in nationally organised events and campaigns that offer or support learning, e.g. Fun Palaces, Kids in Museums- Takeover Day and Instagram takeovers.
  • For all PK Porthcurno staff to be open and friendly to all education enquiries, and willing to explore new partnership opportunities.

Informal learning

  • To offer a regularly changing programme of PK PIONEERS and POP UP PK family activities during school holidays.
  • To offer onsite guided tours, workshops and/or talks tailored to suit the background knowledge or specialist interest of community group visitors.
  • To provide events and activities specific to NPO engagement and audience targets e.g. Relaxed Openings, Fun Palaces, Takeover Days and working with older people.
  • To provide an exhibitions programme, on and offsite, as well as online.
  • To provide an ongoing programme of public lectures and talks, hands-on workshops and other learning events on subjects related to the collections and exhibitions programme.
  • To subscribe to the Kids in Museums manifesto and strive to meet our family audiences’ needs wherever possible and embed ideas around health and wellbeing within our offer wherever possible.

Training and continuing professional development

  • To raise the profile of the collections and the resources and facilities we can offer.
  • To provide learning opportunities for our staff to develop personally and professionally.
  • To provide training for staff in meeting the needs of audiences, for example, people with autism, autism related conditions or dementia friendly etc.

Lifelong learning

  • To develop family orientated activities for displays, school holidays and for annual events e.g. Golowan and Kids on the Prom.
  • To use online engagement more effectively to increase the reach of PK Porthcurno access and learning programmes.
  • To provide an interesting and stimulating range of publications and wherever possible plastic free products in the museum shop that will encourage visitors to extend their learning experiences.

Audience research, consultation, and evaluation of services

  • PK Porthcurno will consult a range of groups to find out more qualitative and quantitative data about users when possible. We will collect data about our users where possible to develop better profiles. We will monitor the profile of our audience to meet NPO reporting requirements and to assess the success of our drive to attract new audiences.
  • Provide schools, colleges and groups with an online evaluation link after the workshop and respond to any comments that may arise.
  • Give opportunity for all visitors to feedback on their experience in a variety of ways.
  • Discuss findings at weekly staff meetings and find ways of implementing on-going improvements – both short and long term.
  • Promote an attitude of ‘looking for solutions’ throughout the workforce.
  • Compare findings with other museum groups and share good practice at CMP Learning Group meetings and Engagement Network Events.
  • Review the Engagement Policy on a programmed basis to assess which new initiatives have been successful and which need adjustment.

Our main aims for research are:

  • To continue to involve audience representatives in a process of consultation, research and evaluation in the development of learning and access provision, new exhibitions and other projects.
  • To work with our learning audiences and partners to pilot new learning, access events and activities, and evaluate, as necessary.
  • To provide participants in all formal and informal learning activities with an opportunity to comment on their experiences and to be responsive to their feedback[4].

Types of Provision by PK Porthcurno

We provide a wide range of services for our current users and are developing new services for new audiences. Our services can be broken down into the following broad areas:

  • Museum open to the public.
  • Onsite permanent and temporary exhibitions.
  • Archive access – help and supervision to access primary resources in the Cable & Wireless Archive.
  • Enquires service for distance enquires.
  • Reference library relating to telegraph history – available on request.
  • Cataloguing of our collections (ongoing behind the scenes): key to improving access to our collections.
  • Annual events programme including Relaxed Openings, seminars, lectures and family events.
  • Loans of parts of our collections to other institutions.
  • Learning resources for formal and informal learning including:
    • Onsite and offsite activities (games, dressing up, trails)
    • Online resources
    • Group visit resources
    • Booklets
    • Publications
    • Information sheets
  • Collection database is available on site.
  • Website: with access to information about PK Porthcurno, information about using our services, news, research guidance, our current exhibitions and displays.
  • Professional advice to individuals, groups, and other institutions.
  • Regular information to Friends of PK.
  • Marketing Press and PR to make people aware of our services.

Marketing

PK Porthcurno considers all user interactions to be potential learning opportunities and the Museum will proactively share its opportunities across a wide range of platforms.

Training Implications

PK Porthcurno has a separate training policy that covers providing training for staff and volunteers on customer service and diversity which should include awareness of access issues for different types of visitors.

Performance Monitoring

PK Porthcurno reports key performance indictors and progress against Business Plan Objectives and collects other data for internal knowledge that helps us assess our improvements in all areas. The Performance Monitoring reported annually covers:

  • Quantitative and qualitative outcomes of visitors to the museum and events
  • Quantitative and qualitative outcomes in Engagement programmes
  • The number of unique visits and online engagement with the website and social media platforms
  • Audience Research
  • Audience Development
  • Access to the designated collection
  • Staff Appraisals.

[1] Adam Reed Rozan is the Director of Audience Engagement at the Worcester Art Museum (WAM) in Massachusetts.

[2] Concessions are for over 60s, students with NUS cards and Friends of PK. We also offer a flexible family ticket.

[3] For a full report of website development see the Web Strategy in development.

[4] We aim to evaluate as much of our service provision as much as possible without overburdening our audiences or staff.

Volunteering

Introduction

Volunteers play an important role in the functioning of PK Porthcurno, Museum of Global Communications. We value the contribution that volunteers make and recognise their skills, experiences and commitment, and the way in which these enhance the activities and aims of the Museum. We are keen to develop and support volunteer opportunities in a variety of areas that complement and mutually benefit everyone at the museum; and hope that volunteers will gain from this association regarding their own personal motivation.

Volunteering statement

PK Porthcurno:

  • Understands that a volunteer is an individual who provides a service of their own free will without monetary compensation, to assist in the museum’s charitable objectives.
  • Recognises the wide social benefits of volunteering, and the positive impact this has on society.
  • Appreciates and values the work carried out by volunteers.

Application

Volunteering positions will be advertised with a role description, on the www.pkporthcurno.com website and may also be advertised through volunteering agencies, local organisations and appropriate media or word of mouth.

Prospective volunteers are asked to fill in a simple application form, which provides the paid staff with the relevant information needed to match a potential volunteer to a volunteer position.  It covers information such as experience, skills, hobbies, interests, any additional needs a person may have and availability.

An Annual Skills Audit is also carried out to maintain up to date records of the volunteer interests and experience.  Information on volunteers is retained in line with GDPR requirements.

References

Due to the sensitive nature of the heritage collection a reference may be obtained, however, this is at the discretion of the Museum.

  • Disclosure and Barring checks may be required for volunteers who will be working with:
    • children
    • vulnerable adults

Recruitment

Any prospective volunteer who appears to have the right skills and aptitude from the interest form will be asked to attend an informal chat with the relevant member of staff to discuss expectations on both sides. Where this may not be possible a telephone chat will be an alternative. Volunteers will then be selected based on their aptitude and skills as well as the needs of the Museum at any one given time.

People under the age of 18 are classed as ‘vulnerable’ and will always be supervised by 2 adults. Risk assessments will be carried out to ensure that placing a young person in a voluntary role will place neither the person themselves nor those with whom they are working at risk.

Volunteers under the age of 16 will require parental or guardian consent/school consent to carry out volunteering work for the museum.

Volunteers should only be taken on where there are enough paid staff and resources to support their contribution.

Volunteer update/ appraisals will be carried out on an annual basis.

Volunteers from outside of the UK must check with the UK Border Agency that their visa permits volunteering in Britain. (Visit visas do not usually permit volunteering in Britain) 

Equal Opportunities

The PK Collections Trust is committed to ensuring that volunteers are not discriminated against in line with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy.

Induction and Training

Volunteers will receive:

  • Information on their specific volunteer role, including assignment to a mentor
  • Health and Safety Information
  • Housekeeping information
  • Manual handling training (If required)
  • Other training (as appropriate) will be offered relevant to volunteer tasks
  • Six-month review (if appropriate, for specific project work)
  • Car vehicle registration details will be required to park for free on the museum car park
  • Policies: (Safeguarding, lone working, volunteer policy and handbook, Health and Safety policy) will be emailed to the volunteer and are available to view in the main office, (hard copies available if requested)

Expectations

Each volunteer position has a time commitment required for the role and will be detailed in the role description. The museum asks all volunteers to be realistic in their commitment, and once their commitment has been made, the museum would like them to fulfil the volunteer role. We recognise that volunteers have commitments outside the museum or that their circumstances can change. To allow work planning, volunteers are asked to give notify staff in advance if they are unable to come in or wish to withdraw from voluntary work.

Supervision and Support

Each volunteer who is accepted to a role within the museum will be assigned a Line Manager who is responsible for the management of that role.

Problem Solving

If problems arise with a volunteer, in the first instance they should be dealt with informally.  If problems cannot be resolved the issue should be referred to their line manager.

Expenses

Volunteers are entitled to claim reasonable travel expenses and any other expenses subject to agreement by their line manager.

Volunteers must complete an expenses form, attach all relevant receipts, and return the form to their line manager for approval. All mileage claims will be calculated from the volunteer’s home postcode to the museum, or venue attending on behalf of the museum, by the most direct route, using the AA route planner.

We pay expenses directly into a volunteer’s bank account at the end of each month, if this presents a problem please speak to their line manager. Not all volunteers will choose to claim travel or other expenses and indeed there is no compulsion to do so. Clearly there are distinct benefits to the Museum if volunteers can cover their own travel expenses, not only in terms of cost saving but in some funding applications the costs incurred by volunteers can be recorded as ‘in kind’ or contribute to ‘matched funding’. In some circumstances, volunteers may be asked to provide a record of travel costs which can be considered donations to the museum. The museum will, of course, willingly cover the travel costs of volunteers who could not participate without the support for travel cost.

Recognition

We appreciate the time volunteers donate to the Museum and acknowledge this by organising ‘Thank you’ events and offering regular volunteer meetings to ensure that volunteers are kept informed as to developments at the museum and given the opportunity to air their views.

Insurance

All volunteers are covered by The PK Collections Trust’s Employer’s Liability Insurance.

Policy Review

Policy review date: December 2021.

Copyright

This website and its content is © PK Porthcurno 2021.

Environmental Policy

Environmental Policy

Background

PK Porthcurno occupies the site of the former telegraph station at Porthcurno in Cornwall, once the largest cable station in the world. The museum has the only designated museum collection in Cornwall, including an extensive archive housed in a separate purpose-built building.

PK is open to the public year-round, with displays and exhibitions relating to the history, science and development of telegraphy and global telecommunications. The site includes the secret tunnels which were constructed to house the telegraph station during WW2.

The museum welcomes an average 21,000 visitors p.a., with the main concentration in the summer season. We employ 25 staff (12.5 FTE) including seasonal employment

Main motivators for environmental policy

Land management responsibility: PK is situated in Porthcurno Valley, an environmentally sensitive location and major tourist attraction. The Valley receives approximately 400,000 visitors a year, mainly for the Minack theatre and the famous Porthcurno beach. The Valley itself is very small with only 40 permanent residents. While the museum receives a comparatively small number of visitors, the charity owns and is responsible for several parcels of land around the Valley including one of the main car parks, the gardens, fields, an area of woodland and ransom strips. These include pockets of wildlife habitat.

Business benefits: As a charity with relatively small reserves, it is important that we minimise waste and maximise profits. This means greater efficiency in utilities, office functions and other areas of overhead expenditure.

Brand values: We also recognise that our audiences are becoming more informed on environmental

Environmental ambition

Our level of ambition is high. We seek to go beyond what is simply required and to make our environmental ambition a key part of our branding and visitor offer.

Our main impacts

Currently our main impacts relate to the running and operation of the museum building and archives, including power/water usage, materials consumed, visitor and staff travel and human interaction with the environment.

In addition, we have several areas of land which have been untended or even neglected for the last two decades and now have invasive species which threatens the biodiversity of the area. This is a problem shared with our neighbours, the National Trust.

Of these, visitors are probably the most significant issue. The museum accounts for only 5% of visitors to the Valley but the fact that these visitors pass through our site and use our land means that we are a key partner in the management of both the visitor impact and experience.

Key environmental commitments

  • Land management to promote biodiversity
  • Reducing waste
  • Reducing plastics
  • Reducing human impact (travel etc)
  • Reducing carbon footprint
  • Championing best practice in our community and in the sector

Responsibility for reviewing your environmental policy

  • Museum Director leads on environmental policy, with expert advice from Tevi (Exeter University) tevi.co.uk
  • The policy is reviewed and approved by the charity Board.
  • Implementation is monitored and updated via the Management Team’s monthly meetings with reporting at quarterly Board meetings.
  •  

Planet PK

Our action plan (#PlanetPK) has been developed by the Director in consultation with the Board and management team. From 2019, the museum is reviewing its environmental policy with help from Tevi, a business support programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly that builds businesses and enhances the natural environment.

  1. Reduce plastics in museum cafe and retail areas by 80% by July 2019
  2. Transfer to renewable energy for both main museum buildings by 31st March 2019
  3. Re-wilding field adjacent to museum by 2024 in partnership with National Trust
  4. Support and grow honey bee population in Porthcurno to five active hives by 2020
  5. Pollinating wild flower planting in car park by Spring 2020
  6. Promote green travel to reduce car visits to the museum by 25% by 2020
  7. Work with other Porthcurno businesses to improve traffic movement through Valley and eliminate congestion by summer 2020
  8. Obtain Plastic Free certification for the Museum by 2020 & for Porthcurno Valley by 2021
  9. Support British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) charity in rescue of marine mammals from Porthcurno beach, ongoing
  10. Work with Subsea Environmental Services (SES) on retrieval & recycling of telegraph cables from sea bed and associated ecosystems
  11. Support campaign for International Dark Skies Designation for West Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

Charity details

PK Porthcurno, Eastern House, The Valley, Porthcurno TR19 6JX

PK Porthcurno is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England and Wales. Reg.Charity number 1189090.

Accessibility Guide

Introduction

PK Porthcurno is situated in the village of Porthcurno in west Cornwall. It tells the story of the development of global telecommunications from the electric and wireless telegraph to modern fibre optics and explores Porthcurno’s surprising 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 bunker, 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.

Pre-arrival

We are happy to take enquiries by telephone, post or email:

  • Telephone: 01736 810966
  • Email: info@pkporthcurno.com
  • Post: PK Porthcurno, Eastern House, Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall TR19 6JX

Visitors are encouraged to pre-book their visit. This can be done through our website or by phone (01736 811913).

The museum is accessible by car and by public transport. Please visit our getting here page for more details.

Our Sensory Map shows the museum experience according to high and low stimulation levels.

Our Social Story provides a visual narrative of a visit through the museum.

Arrival and car parking

For visitors arriving by car there is a single “Blue Badge” parking space immediately outside the entrance to Eastern House. This is signposted from the main road through the village at the entrance to Old Cable Lane. There are three additional blue badge spaces on Old Cable Lane around 50 metres to the north of the entrance to Eastern House.

Parking for non-blue badge holders is in the main museum car park, 150 metres further into the village. This is located between Eastern House and the Wilshaw Building.

There is a tarmac ramp from this car park to the entrance to Eastern House. This ramp becomes moderately steep just below the entrance.

There is level access from the main car park to the Wilshaw building.

The bus stop in Porthcurno is adjacent to the main museum car park.

Eastern House (housing admissions area, exhibitions spaces, demonstration area, museum shop and cafe)

Main entrance, reception area and shop

There is level access to the reception area and shop.

A hearing loop has been fitted at the admissions desk and there is a dropped counter providing low-level access if required.

Gallery spaces

The gallery spaces in Eastern House are on the first floor. There are two staircases and two lifts to access the first floor from the reception area.

The flooring throughout Eastern House is a mix of carpet, wood and vinyl. Seating is provided in the exhibition area. Lighting is mainly by spotlights. Lighting in some of the exhibition cases is slightly lower in order to protect artefacts.

Demonstration area

The southern end of the first floor of Eastern House contains the demonstration area, free talks and demonstrations are delivered regularly throughout the day. There is a film show running on repeat when the demonstrations are not taking place, together with a large number of artefacts on display around the edge of the space.

The demonstration area is carpeted with bench seating. There are 6 benches with generous spacing around them. One of the benches has a backrest and is upholstered.

There is an induction loop in the demonstration area and talks are delivered via microphone linked to an amplification system.

The lighting in demonstration area is lower than in the rest of the exhibition space due to the delicate nature of the particular objects on display.

Café PK

The cafe is on the ground floor of Eastern House, adjacent to the reception area. The till and server area has a dropped counter providing low-level accessibility.

There is wooden flooring throughout the cafe and seating for up to 16 people. Food and drinks are brought to the tables by staff.

There is an additional seating area outside, accessed via four steps and a small gravelled area.

Click here for more information about the museum cafe.

Toilets

There is a men’s toilet, a women’s toilet and a unisex accessible toilet on the ground floor, adjacent to the main reception area. There are baby-changing facilities in both the men’s and women’s toilets.

WW2 Bunker (housing exhibitions spaces)

The approach to the bunker is up a very gentle ramp and approximately 1.5 metres of metal grid flooring. Immediately on entering the bunker there is a short gentle downwards ramp.

Exhibitions spaces

The exhibitions spaces in the bunker are all on one level, with vinyl flooring throughout. There are 5 films showing continuously at points around the tunnels. One of these films has a soundtrack with subtitles, one has a soundtrack but no subtitles and the other three have no soundtrack.

Toilets

There is a unisex accessible toilet adjacent to the exit from the bunker.

“Escape Stairs”

The Escape Stairs are a feature of the bunker, built at the time of its construction to enable safe evacuation in the event of an attack.

The escape stairs are not open to the public, but there is a screen at the bottom showing a live feed from four cameras – three on the stairs and one on the viewing platform.

Wilshaw Building (housing the Archive, Search Room and Clore Learning Space)

The Wilshaw building contains the Clore Learning Space (the museum’s education facility) and the archive search room. The building is not generally open to the public, but can be booked for particular activities. It is accessed via a level walkway from the main car park.

Search Room

The Search Room is on the ground floor and contains a number of desks and working surfaces. It is well lit and the floor is carpeted throughout.

Food and drink are prohibited from the Search Room.

Clore Learning Space

The Clore Learning Space is on the ground floor and contains a number of desks tables and hard chairs. There is a built in projector and a sound system, incorporating an induction loop.

It is well lit (blinds can be lowered if required) and the floor is wooden throughout.

Toilets

There are three unisex toilets in the tunnels, one of which has been accessible adapted.

Grounds and outdoor spaces

The gardens and grounds are primarily between Eastern House and the Wilshaw Building, and around the main museum car park.

The grounds house a number of sculptures as well as some larger artefacts such as grapnels and cable repeaters. There is a cable trail – a short path alongside a run of miniature telegraph poles – next to the Wilshaw Building.

The main, tarmac path between the buildings and the car park passes through the gardens and provides access to some of the sculptures. However, to fully explore the grounds it is necessary to cross lawned areas, and there are some narrow wooden steps which can become slippery when wet.

The cable trail can become muddy in wet weather.

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