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The Marconi Centre, Cornwall

 

The Marconi Centre commemorates the world's first transatlantic radio transmission, made on 12th December 1901 from Poldhu, south west Cornwall, to Signal Hill in St Johns, Newfoundland. The Marconi Centre can be found on the headland at Poldhu at the same location used to transmit Marconi's message, which was a letter S in Morse code. Initially there was some scepticism about Marconi's claims for the December 1901 transmission, so in February 1902 Marconi sailed west from Britain on the SS Philadelphia, recording signals sent daily from Poldhu station. These tests confirmed that audio reception was possible to a distance of over two thousand miles.

You will have to work a little if you want to find the Marconi Centre. Don't expect any signs until you have reached Poldhu Cove Beach on the Lizard peninsula. Then from the car park walk up the steep cliff path to the left of the beach. The Marconi Centre is at the top, beside Wireless Field where the transmitter was built. Marconi chose this location because of a convenient local hotel for his work force, an unobstructed view out across the Atlantic, and also because its remoteness protected him from the prying eyes of competitors. The Centre contains displays related to Marconi and the first transmission. The remains of the transmitting station itself can be seen as a concrete floor a few meters south of the Centre. The transmitting masts of the present radio club are roughly in the same position as the masts of the original station.

Strangely going to see this monument to the modern age is a little like going to see a stone age monument. On the ground is the remains of a circular ditch from the 1925 railway for the revolving aerial system.

A new visitors' centre opened in July 2007 as a joint project between the National Trust and the Poldhu Radio Club.

As chance would have it Satellite Earth Station Goonhilly now stands nearby on the Lizard transmitting and receiving vast amounts of data every second.

 

 

Wireless Field

 

Opening Times: October to April, Sunday 1.30pm - 4.30pm, and Tuesday and Friday 7pm -9pm.

May, June and September, Sunday and Wednesday 1.30pm -4.30pm, and Tuesday and Friday 7pm - 9pm.

July and August, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday 1.30pm -4.30pm, and Tuesday and Friday 7pm -9pm.

These times can vary so it is best to ring the number below to check before you visit. Open bank holidays except 25th and 26th December and January 1st.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address: Marconi Centre, Poldhu, Mullion, Cornwall TR12 7JB

Directions: Click here for an interactive map centred on the Marconi Centre.

Contact:

telephone: 01326 241656

e-mail: lizard@nationaltrust.org.uk