Museum of Communication

About the museum

The museum grew out of the Wireless Collection of Cecil Matthews (1918-2000), a radio engineer who began to restore old radio sets in the 1970s and attracted donations of equipment. By 1979 the collection had become the Museum of Communication. It first met in Bo'ness, and in 1992 the Museum of Communication Foundation Trust was set up to look after it.

In November 2003 the trust bought the building at 131 High Street in Burntisland, a former ex-service social club. Refurbishment, supported by Heritage Lottery and Burntisland Development Trust funding, added storage for the collection, and the public was first admitted in 2005. The exhibition space is in the former main bar of the club.

The collection weighs more than 40 tonnes and covers electrostatics, telegraphy, telephony, audio, radio, television, video and information technology, as well as early experimental radar, satellite, photographic and printing equipment. Only a small part is on show at any time, with a new exhibition each year. A technical library and a programme of lectures complete the museum.

Highlights

• Collection of more than 40 tonnes on the history of communication
• Telephones and exchanges, radio and television equipment
• Early experimental radar
• Military communications equipment
• Technical library
• New exhibition each year and lecture programme

Founded

1979

Operated by

Museum of Communication Foundation Trust (Scottish charity SC022004)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Exhibitions are free to enter; donations are welcome and a card reader is available. Lectures cost £5 in person.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A stair lift runs from the foyer up to the exhibition area.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Children are welcome and there are hands-on exhibits.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Books and souvenirs are sold at the front desk; there is also an online shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit