Culture and Leisure department logoGuernsey Telephone Museum

The telephone museum closed its doors for the final time in September 2011, as detailed in the season's schedule below. It had been hoped to accomodate pre-booked group visits in the short term even though the museum would not open normally but unfortunately this will not now be possible. The unique collection of telephony-related items will remain a part of the museum's reference collections and individual items will be displayed at our other sites when needs and opportunities arise.

Guernsey Telephone Museum - Photograph of the Cobo Road frontageOpening Times (2011 only):
Selected afternoons only:
May 17 - September 8 : Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - 14:00-17:00
Admission: Adult - £2.00 Senior - £1.50 Child - £0.50
(Senior: over 65 years)
At other times groups of 8+ can gain admission by prior arrangement.
Queen's Birthday FREE entry - Saturday June 11 14:00-17:00
Special Final Weekend - September 10/11 - Free entry
Visitors with disabilities may like to consult our Disabled Access leaflet
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 remained under the curatorial care of the Department, day to day manning of the museum was initially undertaken by volunteers. More recently our own staff have taken over this role.

In addition to the Telephone Museum, the Department also runs - Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery, the museums in Castle Cornet and Fort Grey Shipwreck Museum.
 
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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