Lavernock Point

Lavernock Point is a headland on the coast of South Wales, and lies 8km south of Cardiff and 6km east of Barry.

On the 18th May 1897, Guglielmo Marconi, assisted by George Kemp, a Cardiff Post Office engineer, transmitted the very first message by wireless telegraphy – radio – across the water between the island of Flat Holm and Lavernock Point, a distance of 3.5 miles. The message sent in Morse code was 'ARE YOU READY.'

Because of the extreme tidal range in the severn estuary into which Lavernock point protrudes, there are very strong tidal currents or rips close inshore to the point with velocities that exceed 7 knots for several hours each tide.