Enfield CB1 at the Dugdale Centre

Between June and August 2012, the Enfield CB1 switchboard was on display in the Dugdale Centre as part of an exhibition and event to collect memories of the exchange and its people, and to help relive its wonderful history.

Photo: Enfield Manual Board on display in the Dugdale Centre until 31st August © LSA July 2012.

| EXIT | Enfield CB1 | Acknowledgements |

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This page is retained to demonstrate the effort that went in to collecting the history behind this unique exhibit.

"If you wish to re-live the era of Operator Services circa 1950, then Enfield Town is the place to visit, as the original CB1 manual board is back in situ for a short time only. Cords and calling lamps, jacks and headsets, all set up to spark your memories of working the board, speaking to the subs and being part of the GPO family. On the special tour days, Science Museum hosts Hilary Geoghegan and John Liffen have facilitated the events which have included a GPO film matinee, cream teas and lots of reminiscences, fun and photos from ex-operators from across London."

Acknowledgements & Further Info

The Enfield Project was devised to collect memories of the Switchboard, in advance of it going on display in the Science Museum's new London galleries, which were to open in 2014.

Dr Hilary Geoghegan writes "The aim of the exhibition is to share Enfield's telephony heritage and to collect stories from those who have worked at the telephone exchange, either as 'Hello Girls', engineers, or managers."

	Dr Tilly Blyth, Keeper of Technologies and Engineering at the Science Museum, talks about gathering stories for artefacts, in particular for the Enfield Exchange. You Tube vid, may be subject to changes, view at own risk.

The Science Museum worked in partnership and with support from, Enfield Council, BT Heritage, and the British Film Institute (BFI) with funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). On a wider scale, the events were expected to form the basis of future collaborative public engagement projects with heritage organisations.

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