Culture and Leisure department logoGuernsey Telephone Museum

Guernsey Telephone Museum - Photograph of the Cobo Road frontageOpening Times:
April 3, 10, 17 & 24 - 14:00-16:30
May > August - Wednesdays & Thursdays - 14:00-16:30
Sept. 4, 11, 18 & 25 - 14:00-16:30
Admission: Adult - £2.00 Senior - £1.00
(Accompanied children & students free)
At other times groups of 8+ can gain admission by prior arrangement.
Guernsey Telephone Museum was inaugurated by the States of Guernsey in 1976, primarily from items returned to the stores of Guernsey Telecoms following the automation of Guernsey's telephone system. At that time the Museum occupied approximately 650 square feet of the ground floor of the building, Hermes House, which had previously housed the Câtel Manual Telephone Exchange.

In 1996, the centenary of the formation of the States Telephone Council, the Museum was completely refurbished and extended to occupy 1000 square feet within the building. A selection of robust objects was also placed on display in the front garden. The Museum was extended again in 2001 to include the whole of the ground floor which provided around 1,250 square feet of exhibition space as well as enabling a document archive and store room to be created.

 Photograph of an early wall telephone bearing the States of Guernsey armorial
 
Photograph of Magneto telephoneIn May 2002 Guernsey Telecoms was acquired by Cable and Wireless (Guernsey) Ltd. and, by States agreement, the company continued to maintain and operate the Museum until the end of 2004.

Photograph of novelty 'Mickey Mouse' telephoneOn the 1st January 2005 the Museum again became the responsibility of the States of Guernsey, under the umbrella of the Department of Culture and Leisure. While the nationally recognised collection of objects and telephone memorabilia remains under the curatorial care of the Department, day to day manning of the museum is undertaken by the Friends of Guernsey Heritage.

The Telephone Museum joins the Department's other sites - Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery, the Museums of Castle Cornet and Fort Grey Shipwreck Museum.

Future plans for Guernsey Telephone Museum include a re-design of the exhibition areas.
 
Museum staff will be delighted to give visitors a demonstration of working items from within the collection as well as answering any questions they may have.
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