Living and Working at Porthcurno

A black and white photograph of Staff and Probationers (trainees) sitting on the cliffs near Porthcurno around 1876.

Image: Staff and Probationers on the cliffs at Porthcurno around 1876.

In 1915 the training role of the station became more formal and 12 out of 30 recruits taken on at Electra House in London were sent to PK for training. In 1950 an Engineering College was opened there.

To qualify as a telegraph operator a probationer was allowed to make only one error for every thousand words transmitted. Any lower level of accuracy brought deferred promotion or punishment. George Spratt was a superintendent at Porthcurno in the early years. These extracts from his diaries give us a glimpse of life here in the 19th century. The boisterous high spirits of staff and students was the cause of the following entry:

'John Henry Prowse of Treen making complaint respecting conduct of portion staff during last week - practical joking on his premises etc - complaint seems too well grounded.' March 1879 The local interest in science and technology at the time is illustrated by the programme of talks for the Davy Centenary exhibition at Penzance: [accompany this with illustration of Davy Centenary] 'Went into Penzance to make preparations for showing apparatus at Davy centenary celebration... Engaged all day arranging instruments - Mr Ash came in during afternoon - and l left for home late in evening. Had supper with Oliver, White and co - of course ran into small hours - home at 3am... Exhibition very successful.' February 1879

In the early days of the telegraph station, Porthcurno was extremely remote. The only means of getting to Penzance was by horse drawn vehicle or on foot. On the land which is now a car park grazed the horse which pulled a cart into Penzance twice a week for stores. A Penzance hairdresser drove to Porthcurno to cut hair and sell a few luxuries to the isolated residents. The staff club at Porthcurno was called the 'Exiles'. This was the social and cultural focus of life in the valley and remains to this day. The name 'Exiles' soon became used for staff clubs all over the world.

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