May 2026
Instead of the usual meeting at The Morrab Library members met on a beautiful sunny day at Porthcurno. The first stop was the ‘PK Porthcurno’ Telegraph Museum for a fascinating talk on the history of telegraphy in general and the site in particular. The first undersea cable was laid to Bombay in 1870. The rest of the morning was spent exploring the museum with its World War 2
tunnels, ‘escape’ stair and exhibits illustrating the experience of those who worked on the undersea cables, in times of both war and peace.
The afternoon visit was at the nearby St Levan Church with another talk. Members heard of the history of the building and admired the mediaeval wooden bench-ends. Of particular interest was the recent excavation down on the cliff of St Levan’s chapel and its implications.Unlike most of the Cornish saints, St Levan was a local man.
Events for June include practising for Litfest talks on Wednesday July 8th which will be at the Exchange and supporting The Morrab Library Summer Fair on June 20th. Books on sale at these events include fascinating chapters on the archives held by The Morrab Library in Beyond The Bookshelves and Women of West Cornwall from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries.
For more books on sale just go to the ‘Publications’ section of this site.
JN
PLHG publications can be purchased online here or perused in the Morrab Library.
Penwith Local History Group
Edited by
Sally Corbet
price £10
plus p&p
Photo Glyn Richards