Information extracted from British Phone Books on www.ancestry.co.uk
Post Office Telegraphs
The telegram was the method of rapid communication before the telephone arrived. The Post Office took control of private telegraph companies in 1870. Telegrams were delivered by telegram boys on foot in the early years. Later they used bicycles or BSA motorcycles. Inland telegrams lasted until the 1970s, but Greetings Telegrams can still be sent.
The earliest available phone directory for Newcastle dates from 1887, issued by Post Office Telegraphs.
There were already more than 600 subscribers, showing that the service had been expanding for a few years.
The telephone exchange was in the Post Office building on St Nicholas Street in Newcastle.
The phone lines followed the North Eastern Railway to Washington, along with telegraph wires.
There was no automatic dialling in those days and all calls had to be connected by operators in Newcastle telephone exchange.
1887 Post Office telephone directory
Newcastle 1, Newcastle Head Post Office (public Call Office)
Newcastle 158, Cook J & Son, Iron Works, Washington
Newcastle 597, Springwell Colliery, Usworth Colliery, Usworth Hall, Washington Cabin (John Bowes and Partners)
Newcastle 109, Washington Coal Company, Quayside, Newcastle
Newcastle 119, Washington Coal Company, Tyne Dock
Newcastle 129, Washington Coal Company, Washington Colliery
By 1896 John Bowes and Partners had closed the subscription for Post Office Newcastle 597.
They became Newcastle 1909 on the National Telephone Company system.
Joseph Cook's ironworks and the Washington Coal Company retained their Post Office Newcastle numbers.
Until 1908 there were no new subscribers in Usworth and Washington on the Post Office telephone system.
The Post Office also leased private wires for mines and factories which did not appear in directories.
A new manual telephone exchange then opened in Washington Village.
1908 Post Office telephone directory
Public Call Office in New Washington Post Office
Washington Village 1, Post Office (Public Call Office)
Washington Village 2, Anderson J E, Draper, 81 Speculation Place
Washington Village 3, Elliott R, General Dealer, Supply Stores
Washington Village 4, Jaques W, Physician & Surgeon, Naworth House
Washington Village 5, Lomax Rev, The Rectory
Washington Village 6, Noble W T, Draper, 3 Front Street
Washington Village 7, Richardson T, Miners Agent, 38 Speculation Place
Washington Village 8, Turnbull J, Licensed Victualler, New Inn
Washington Village 9, Frazier J G & Son, Painters, Spout Lane
Washington Village 10, Durham County Constabulary, Police Station
This was the only time that Washington exchange subscribers were shown on one page of the Post Office directory.
Afterwards they were mixed with the Newcastle alphabetical listings.
Maps of Washington Village - British History - Old Maps - Keys to the Past - Geograph NZ3156 - Microsoft Virtual Earth
National Telephone Company
A rival to Post Office Telegraphs was the Northern District Telephone Company, formed in 1881.
Head Offices were in Arcade Chambers, Sunderland.
Telephone exchanges were in Sunderland, Newcastle, Darlington, Durham, Middlesbrough, etc.
Newcastle telephone exchange was in the business district on the Quayside.
There were plans to connect trunk lines with other commercial telephone companies in Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Hansard 14 September 1886
"...Post Office authorities have recently refused the Northern District Telephone Company permission to run wires, for the purpose of telephonic communication, over parts of the North Eastern Railway Company's system, although the Railways Company is willing to allow the necessary posts and wires to be erected...."
1889 Northern District telephone directory
Newcastle 1056, North Biddick Colliery Office, Quayside, Newcastle
Newcastle 1057, North Biddick Colliery, Whitehouse, Washington
By 1890 the Northern District Telephone Company had become part of the National Telephone Company.
1895 National Telephone Company directory
Newcastle 1001, National Telephone Company (Local Manager's Office), Quayside, Newcastle
Newcastle 1740, National Telephone Company (District Manager's Office), 160 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle
Newcastle 1315, Cook J & Son, Washington
Newcastle 1373, Newall, R.S. & Sons, Washington Chemical Company
Newcastle 1057, North Biddick Colliery, near Washington Station
Newcastle 1691, Washington Coal Company
Joseph Cook's ironworks and the Washington Coal Company had lines on the two rival networks.
160 Pilgrim Street was where the East Coast Main Line crossed above the southern end of Pilgrim Street.
This was before the Tyne Bridge approach road was built in 1928.
Maps of Pilgrim Street, Newcastle - British History - Old Maps - Keys to the Past - Geograph NZ2564 - Microsoft Virtual Earth
The Post Office took control of trunk wires in 1896.
1898-1899 National Telephone Company directory
Newcastle 1909, Bowes, John & Partners Ltd, Colliery Owners, Springwell
Newcastle 1909a, Bowes, John & Partners Ltd, Colliery Owners, Washington
Newcastle 1909b, Bowes, John & Partners Ltd, Colliery Owners, Mineral Cabin
Newcastle 1315, Cook J & Son, Washington
Newcastle 1985, Johnasson, Gordon & Co Ltd, Colliery Owners, 2 Collingwood Street, Newcastle
Newcastle 158, Johnasson, Gordon & Co Ltd, Colliery Owners, Usworth Colliery
Newcastle 158a, Johnasson, Gordon & Co Ltd, Usworth Hall
Newcastle 158b, Johnasson, Gordon & Co Ltd, Mineral Cabin, Washington
Newcastle 157, Johnasson, Gordon & Co Ltd, Tyne Dock
Newcastle 1373, Newall, R.S. & Son Ltd, Wire Rope Manufacturers, Washington
Newcastle 1691, Washington Coal Company Ltd, Colliery Owners, Custom House Chambers, Newcastle
In 1899 the New Washington branch of Birtley Co-operative Society was on Low Fell 24a.
In 1905 this changed to Gateshead 198
In 1903 Washington Station stores of Birtley Co-operative Society was on Birtley 5b.
In 1904 the Washington Chemical Co was also listed as Magnesia Coverings Ltd on Newcastle 1373.
The Post Office had taken over the private telegraph companies in 1870.
Parliament intended that the Post Office should also take control of the telephone system.
The National Telephone Company directory began listing Post Office subscribers.
The NTC Newcastle exchange became Central, while the Post Office Newcastle exchange became City.
1908 National Telephone Company directory (Including Subscribers to Local Post Office Exchanges)
Birtley 5b, Birtley District Co-operative Society, Washington Station
Gateshead 198, Birtley District Co-operative Society, New Washington branch
Central 1901, Bowes, John & Partners Ltd, Colliery Owners, Milburn House, Newcastle
Central 1909, Bowes, John & Partners Ltd, Colliery Owners, Springwell
Central 1909a, Bowes, John & Partners Ltd, Colliery Owners, Bank Head Cabin
Central 1909b, Bowes, John & Partners Ltd, Colliery Owners, Bank Foot Cabin
Central 1315, Cook Joseph, Sons & Co, Washington
Central 1985, Johnasson, Gordon & Co Ltd, Colliery Owners, Caledonian Buildings, Newcastle
Central 158, Johnasson, Gordon & Co Ltd, Colliery Owners, Usworth Colliery
Central 158a, Johnasson, Gordon & Co Ltd, Usworth Hall
Central 158b, Johnasson, Gordon & Co Ltd, Mineral Cabin, Washington
Central 1373, Washington Chemical Co Ltd, Washington
Central 1691, Washington Coal Company Ltd, Colliery Owners, Cathedral Buildings, Newcastle
City 109, Washington Coal Company, Colliery Owners, Cathedral Buildings, Newcastle
City 129, Washington Coal Company (Tyzack and Branfoot), Washington Colliery
City 129a, Washington Coal Company, Glebe Pit
City 129b, Washington Coal Company, Blue House (Mr Ford)
City 129c, Washington Coal Company, Mineral Cabin
The alphabetical listings for Washington Village Post Office exchange were mixed in with Newcastle listings.
The 1911 directory had these additional listings,
Washington Village 11, Pyle H E, Contractor, Station Road
Washington Village 12, Cook J, Ironfounder, North Biddick Hall
Washington Village 13, Farquharson R, Physician & Surgeon, Glebe House
Washington Village 14, Rutter J G & Sons, Plumbers, 2 Railway Terrace
Washington Village 15, Blyth J & Sons, Brick & Tile Manufacturer, Washington Station
38 Speculation Place was now 38 Co-operative Terrace
On 1st January 1912 the Postmaster General took over the National Telephone Company.
There is a gap in Ancestry telephone directories of North East England from 1912 to 1920.
Go to the 1921 telephone directory
Useful Links
www.thg.org.uk - Telecommunications Heritage Group (UK), with a page about the Telegraph Service.
www.telephonesuk.co.uk - Mike Fletcher's resource of photos, pictures and information about UK telephones.
www.britishtelephones.com - Bob's Telephone File by R.Freshwater.
www.connected-earth.com - Founded by BT, Connected Earth is supported by partner museums all over the UK.
http://distantwriting.co.uk - Distant Writing by Steven Roberts is a history of the Telegraph Companies in Britain between 1838 and 1868.