Messrs G Sharples and Son

This collection consists of phone books.

An advert was placed in the Preston Guardian on 6 September 1879 by George Sharples promoting a telephone service in Preston. On 21 February 1880 Sharples completed the first telephone line laid in Preston from the office of the Town Clerk to that of the Borough Surveyor. Demand for their service grew and an exchange on Fishergate, Preston was opened on 1 September 1881 known as the Preston Telephonic Exchange. The Lancashire and Cheshire Telephonic Exchange Company Limited had opened their exchange in the town the previous month, on 3 August 1881. There was active competition between the two companies until the Lancashire and Cheshire bought out Sharples on 1 December 1886.

Available for research at BT Group Archives

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