Peninsula Gallery

The four wooden Marconi wireless towers at Poldhu, Mullion, Cornwall. Before 1912

A view of the four wooden 200ft Marconi towers at Poldhu, built by early 1902, showing the guide wires and signal station buildings. View from across the beach at Poldhu. The earlier two-masted tower installation, which was used by Guglielmo Marconi to transmit the first transatlantic radio message on 12th December 1901, was damaged by storms. Poldhu was taken over by the Royal Navy after the First World War and continued to operate as a research station until 1933, after which the site was cleared and donated to the National Trust. A granite monument, erected in 1937 by the Marconi Company, now stands on the site. A man is lying on the grass in the foreground. Photographer: Arthur William Jordan

© From the collection of the RIC

Military General Service Medal, 1793-1814

This medal was awarded to Captain G.J. Call in 1848, together with the clasp CUIDAD RODRIGO'. It is one of 17 campaign medals awarded to members of the Call family, now in the museum collection. The medals date from the Peninsular War (1807-1814) to the Great War (1914-1918). The Call family served with the Royal Irish Regiment, which until 1881 was known as the 18th Regiment of Foot. It was also known as the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot and the 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot. The regiment was disbanded in 1922. The medal, sometimes called the Peninsular Medal, was approved on 1st June 1847 as a retrospective award for various military actions from 1793-1814. Cuidad Rodrigo in Spain was a key border fortress during the Peninsular War, 1808-1814. It was the site of a 10 day siege by the Duke of Wellington and his troops in January 1812. Designed by William Wyon, the obverse of the circular silver medal bears the head of Queen Victoria with the inscription VICTORIA REGINA 1848. The reverse depicts Queen Victoria placing a wreath on the head of the Duke of Wellington with the inscription TO THE BRITISH ARMY 1793-1814'. The rim is inscribed with the recipient's name, rank and regiment. The ribbon is crimson with vertical stripes of blue. TRURI : 1931.40.41

© RIC, photographer Mike Searle

Sugar Loaf, Kynance Cove, Landewednack, Cornwall. Probably early 1900s

A view Sugar Loaf Rock, Kynance Cove. A hand coloured slide, number 19 of a series produced by W.C. Hughes, Brewster House, 82, Mortimer Road, Kingsland Road, London. The actual slide states the location is Gadegastal Cove, Kynance. Photographer: Unknown

© From the collection of the RIC

Coast, Cornish, Peninsula, Sea, The Lizard