The electric telegraph line installed from London to Varna in the 1850s, in the context of the Crimean War, represented a significant achievement in the expansion of telecommunication infrastructure across Europe and into the conflict zones of the Crimea. The exact route of this telegraph line would have involved several key segments, stretching across different countries and terrains, to bridge the vast distance between London and Varna, a city on the coast of the Black Sea in what is now Bulgaria.
While specific details of each segment might vary, the general route would likely have followed these key points:
- London to the English Channel coast: The telegraph line would start in London, then proceed towards the south coast of England, aiming for a channel crossing point, possibly near Dover.
- Crossing the English Channel: The line would cross the English Channel, likely through a submarine telegraph cable, connecting England to the European mainland, possibly arriving in Calais, France.
- Through France: From the landing point in France, the telegraph line would extend across the country, likely passing through major cities like Paris, towards the eastern border of France.
- Across Central Europe: Entering the German Confederation (modern-day Germany, Austria, and possibly other Central European states), the route would continue eastwards. It might pass through key cities that served as telegraph hubs at the time, possibly including Vienna, Austria.
- Through the Habsburg Empire and the Balkans: Continuing from Austria, the line would traverse the Habsburg Empire’s territories (including parts of modern-day Hungary, Romania, and Serbia), moving towards the Balkan Peninsula.
- To Varna, Bulgaria: Finally, the route would reach its destination in Varna, located on the western coast of the Black Sea. This final segment would likely pass through territories that are now part of Romania and Bulgaria.
Varna to Sevastopol an under-sea submarine cable. R S Newall & Co. built the Black Sea line. They were also the ones who put in the first working underwater telegraph across the English Channel. On December 9, 1854, Newall offered to lay a wire for the War Department at no cost, even though no one had asked him to. It was picked up on December 12. By January 16, 1855, the Gutta Percha Company in London had protected 400 miles of wire and sent it to Newall’s works in Gateshead to be finished. There, sixty men were hired to work on the project, and a new transport ship was chartered. That’s when things went wrong. The new ship wasn’t safe to sail, and it was a terrible winter. The wire and gear had to be moved to a bigger ship, and they didn’t leave England until February 25. Newall’s steamer, Argus, arrived at Varna on March 30 with the cable, his business partner Charles Liddell, his engineer Henry Woodhouse, and the Army’s Captain E. F. du Cane on board. Soon after, HMS Spitfire and HMS Terrible, the ship’s guards, would join it.
- The Detour: The line will be originally positioned from Cape Kaliakria, about thirty miles north of Varna, to Monastery Bay in Crimea. The little armada embarked on its journey on April 1, 1855, and successfully installed the initial telegraph cable on April 13, 1855. The original idea was to establish an aerial connection between Kaliakria and Varna using an overhead wire. However, there was an excess amount of cable available, which allowed for the creation of an additional underwater link instead. It is believed that the cable was the laid to the site of the now “Euxinograde Palace,” which was a monastery at that time located north of Varna. It was then transported overland to 23 Primoeski, where Marshal Saint Arnaud had his headquarters. This route was chosen instead of the direct path through Varna harbour, as it was susceptible to being caught by passing ships’ anchors.
On April 28, 1855, the first word was sent from Balaklava to London over the Crimean tube.
In the end, the Army set up a Submarine Electric Telegraph Department at the Monastery and Varna. This came from the Royal Artillery leaders and soldiers, not the Sappers and Miners. Their schooling came from the Sappers, and they shared the work with government clerks sent from England.
The overall route involved a combination of overland wires and underwater cables, with the technology of the time requiring relay stations at regular intervals for signal amplification and message re-transmission. The establishment of such a comprehensive telegraph network was fraught with technical and logistical challenges, including the need to negotiate rights of way with multiple countries, the physical laying of telegraph cable, both overland and undersea, and the maintenance of the lines against environmental and human-induced damages.
The London to Varna telegraph was a monumental endeavour for its time, significantly enhancing the ability of the British government and military to communicate with their forces engaged in the Crimean War, offering strategic advantages that had not been previously possible.
