Local names

Due to the storm(s) sweeping Britain this week i postponed my planned trip to Shropshire until next week. Instead i went on a walk around the local streets, just like during the original lockdown! I have recently formed an interest in photographing the older metal painted street name signs in Birmingham. The Council may remove them at some stage so i thought it would be an idea to record them.

Old telephone numbers

Two examples of older telephone number formats. The first is of an old shop sign in Erdington (now changed) but well into the late 1990s it still listed ERD as part of the telephone number.

B.Jones on Slade Road

This means you would dial the numbers on your phone (in those days a dial phone) corresponding to ERD, which meant you dialled 373 - still an Erdington code. As it was listed in letter format it was considered easier to remember. I wonder why this practice ceased?

GPO dial phone (at York museum)

The other is a sign at Wilmcote railway station in Warwickshire. For emergencies you would call Worcester! Presumably you would call via an operator.

Sign at Wilmcote railway station