The Telecoms Coast

The Telecoms Coast
A History of Terrestrial, Subsea and Space Communication in Cornwall

Geoff Varrall

This is the story of telecommunication in Cornwall from 1830 to the present day, spanning the earliest days of the terrestrial telegraph network, the laying of subsea cables from 1850 onwards, high-power long-distance radio from 1900 and satellite communication from the early 1960s.

The Telecoms Coast is a fascinating insight into the history and development of telecommunications, bringing the reader on a journey around Cornwall, from the early days of the terrestrial telegraph network, via the laying of subsea cables that connected the UK and the rest of the world, to the advent of high-power long-distance radio in 1900 and satellite communications. It looks at the impact of the tin industry, steam power and the railways on telecommunication systems and show how the underlying technology and engineering economics of global communication systems remain unchanged.

The technical and historical insight delivered by author Geoff Varrall, a former director of Cambridge Wireless, is compelling. Equally captivating is the journey on which we travel with him around the county. Through his words, the reader can travel along the coast from Land's End to the Lizard Wireless Station.

Cornish mining, Cornish steam power, steamships and the railway inspired this communications revolution between Lands' End and the Lizard. This book helps to tell that story.

Royalties from the book's sales go to support youth outreach initiatives at the Marconi Centre in Poldhu on the Lizard Peninsula.

192 pages ISBN: 97818499 56116
Non-Members: £17.99, RSGB Members: £16.99