Phone upgrades in Victorian Britain

Season 5, episode 6. 28th September - 1st October 1882.  An industrial accident involving a crane takes place at Fred's works in Middlesbrough, and we take look at the history of the adoption of the telephone in Victorian Britain. Fred and Janie also reflect that their time of writing to each other is coming to an end.

Transcript

[Intro]
Welcome back to My Love Letter Time Machine, Hi, I’m Ingrid Birchell Hughes, and I’m serialising the love letters of my great great Grandparents, Fred Shepherd and Janie Warburton. Travel 140 years back in time with me now where we take a look at Victorian history through their eyes and today, an industrial accident involving a crane takes place at the North Eastern Steel Works, and we take look at the history of the adoption of the telephone in Victorian Britain

[Phone upgrades in Victorian Britain]

Back in Middlesbrough, workers at the North Eastern Steel Works are seriously injured in an industrial accident due to the failure of a crane, as reported here in the Northern Weekly Gazette for Saturday 30 September 1882:

ACCIDENT AT THE NORTH-EASTERN STEEL WORKS, Middlesbrough.—About half-past six o'clock on Monday evening two men named Richard Goody, 38 years of age, of 42, Carter-street, and James Booth, 36 years old, of 126, Marsh-road, met with a serious accident under the following circumstances : —The two men were engaged, with the assistance of a travelling crane, in lifting a large tied plate, weighing 17 tons, from a railway truck. The crane and rails all came down together, and some portion of the wreck fell on Goody's leg, breaking it, and knocking out several of Booth's teeth, and severely bruising him about the head and face. The injured men were at once removed to the Infirmary.

It would appear that our Fred was responsible for getting Mr Cooper to return to Middlesbrough to deal with the situation which is mentioned in his next, and, he’s been busy selecting furniture for their new home. 

Royal Exchange
Middlesbrough
THE NORTH EASTERN STEEL CO
LIMITED
Septbr 28th 1882

My own darling Wife
I received your long letter this morning for which I thank you love. I am pleased that you like the idea of keeping some cake for our wedding anniversaries my darling. I trust we may have many of them. – If the collars do not turn up I shall certainly enquire for them. – My coat did hang behind the door, with the letters in; I have since locked them up. I counted them last night love, there were about 160 for the ten months – pretty regular + constant work that my darling – I think the stamp a/c will show a considerable falling off when we are married.

I think there was nothing to pay on the chamber service love, I was not in when it came Mrs Snaith asked the man if there was anything to pay he said he did not know; but yesterday when he brought the portmanteau + boxes he said there was 7s. Mrs Snaith did not pay it, but told me about it. I don’t think there should be anything to pay – I believe the man was trying on. – The boxes received yesterday seem to be all right – but one of the straps of the portmanteau is broken, was it so when it left Sheffield love? It was tied up with string. – I will give you a little information when sending any more boxes love, always get them to stick one of their labels on, they are always more careful when they are labelled with the Railway label; besides I don’t think they are responsible unless so labelled. Of course there will be the address label as well.

I am glad to hear that you will not mind the starching + Ironing darling – I wish you were here to do it love now. I should be quite satisfied. But it only wants a fortnight love. A fortnight, just fancy! and the day we have looked forward to for four years love will have come. I feel so thankful my darling, that I have been able to offer you a comfortable home, you know that you will have a loving husband, + I hope a considerate one.

I have locked the things you sent, up in my box so they will be safe there love. I think it is a good plan to pack the things up as you can, so that you will not have it all to do at the last. – Is the rocking chair my mother gave you the cane one love? 

I have told O’Donnell I thought you could call before we left.

I can quite see that Jinnie + Carrie may hinder us love, but our usual good luck may come in as before. It will be awkward love if the monthly is early + comes off on the Thursday, but we shall even then make the best of it.
I am very pleased that you have not had much [quizzing] love about the wedding.

I have been to Punch Bros today love, I have selected the Dinner and bedroom Suites + table. I think that is what is intended me to do love wasn’t it? Shall I have them put in before you come up afterwards love? I have increased the price of Dining Room Suite love by £1 - that is 5/ on each of the four small chairs — the others were only stuffed these are springs, I think they will be much nicer. Have I done right love? I have also picked a light bedroom suite, is that right? Mr Punch asked me about the Bedstead have you arranged anything about this yet love?

Mr Cooper came down to the office works this morning; we had an accident at the Works last Monday _+ telephoned for him to come back at once. The girder broke which carries the travelling Crane, + the Crane + everything came down. Several men were hurt but only two seriously, they were taken to the infirmary.   

Mr Cooper looks very well + seems much better in health. He asked me very particularly if the Secretary + I had got on well together during his absence. Of course we have so he seemed satisfied. He also asked me if I had decided when to leave for the “event.” 

I told him on the Tuesday afternoon, at which he said “very well,” + you must expect me on the Tuesday night. Will stay in Sheffield that day, I thought if he was + did not leave before six he might take my portmanteau up to your house. If not, do you think Mr Allen would take it up for me – I could bring it to the Wellington. Only 11 days my darling, + then I shall see you.

Mr Marston asked me if I thought a Bread Knife + Platter would be useful to us?
Will you please put fill in the address of Joseph A Royston as Nottingham St Sheffield.  You will notice I left it out.
Shall I get some window blind rollers as there are none in the house. Did I tell you there are no Venetian Blinds to the Windows, + there is also no inside door. I shall await your letter tomorrow.
I remain, my darling Wife
Your loving true + faithful husband
Fred

Before reading this letter from Fred, it had never occurred to me that the telephone was part of his and Janie’s world. And I was rather curious as to how this had come to be. 

The adoption of the telephone in the late 19thC, particularly in the world of industry, was enthusiastic and rapid. Merely 2 years after Alexander Graham Bell submitted his patent for the telephone, Queen Victoria permitted Bell to visit Osborne House on the Isle of Wight  the 14th of January 1878, whereupon he demonstrated the very first long distance calls in Britain — to Cowes, London and Southampton. 

After quickly establishing an exchange in London, the following year the newly formed Telephone Company Ltd (Bell's Patents) opened exchanges in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and in Sheffield. On the 29th of January 1880 the first trunk line was opened in the North of England between Bradford and Leeds. 

I’ve not been able to find out when the Middlesbrough exchange was installed but 1879 also saw a demonstration of the telephone to a large assembly’ in the Borough Hall in the neighbouring town of Stockton. 

The British government authorised the Post Office to provide a public telephone service alongside the telegraph in 1881, and this year also saw the formation of the first generation of home grown telephone companies - with the North of England being covered by the Lancashire and Cheshire Telephonic Exchange Companies in May, and the Northern District Telephone Company by December.  It appears that Fred arrived in Middlesbrough a fraction after the telephone did. They were already a fixture at least in business life, as this article from August 1881 in the Middlesborough Daily Gazette reports — detailing an upgrade of the latest telephone technology in the offices where Fred worked at the Royal Exchange:

It reads:

“The Gower-Bell Telephone in Cleveland. — On Monday evening a successful trial of the Gower-Bell Telephone was made between Mr Swan's residence at Upsall Hall, Nunthorpe, and the Cargofleet Iron Company's offices in the Royal Exchange, Middlesbrough, with the instruments at Normanty Mines and Cargofleet Ironworks. The speaking was well heard, the sound being both full and clear. Being successful with the telephones, the [original] A.B.C. instruments are now superseded on this circuit. The arrangements were under the charge of Mr Vyle, Postal Telepraph Department.”

Mr Vyle eh? poor man, rather an unfortunate name?! 

Excuse the smears in haste
Handsworth
September 39th 1882

My own darling husband
I am very busy sewing to day so from I shall only be able to give you a little.
I promised to call at your house coming back from Mrs Flears I did + they were all well except your mother + Walter too but they are better than they have been. You will have received a sprig of Thyme (tucked in your portmanteau Louisa put it in[…], they think it is a long time since you wrote to them love.

Arthur bought us the meat jack last Saturday, it is a nice brass one. So love I shall be able to roast you some meat before the fire as there is the thing to [fix] on the chimney piece. I know they do not often roast it that way at Midddlesbrough + it is so much better.
I brought our cruet up to our house to pack in box with my clothes, there is only + a bowl + the salver to pack now.

Miss Butler has brought Annie Laverack’s dress home to day, it looks very nice indeed.
Mine will not be finished until Tuesday week. I do not want it at home until nearer the time.
I wish it was over love + we [were] both nicely settled at Middlesbro’.

I shall have to see about the blinds to night I have not got them yet. I am thinking of getting them at Mrs Allens.

Our John has gone for a drive with Porters travellers on his Worksop journey, it is a nice day for a drive.

I did not tell you there has been a conversation in Darnall Clubrooms to raise funds for a mission room in Pothouse Lane, I did not go, only into the refreshment room with Jinnie on Tuesday to speak to Maria, we did not pay anything, Jinnie was just going to the station. I think the concerts each evening was better than the usual ones by all accounts. I have not time for more.
I remain my darling
Your loving true + faithful wife
Janie

Handsworth
September 30th 1882
My own darling husband
I received your welcome letter this morning for which I thank you love.

Our letters have been pretty regular in the ten months, there will be great falling off in the stamps [account] love.

I broke the straps of your portmanteau love in fastening it, it was very rotten, Louisa + I tied it with string.
I will act on your information next time I send any boxes love.
I can hardly realise my darling that the day we have looked forward to so long, is so near, it will very soon be here now.
I do know that I shall have a loving + considerate  husband + you love will have a happy wife + one than loves you dearly.
It is the cane rocking chair your mother has given us, so love both you + I will have a chair from home, it will fill the other corner in our middle room.
You have done quite right love in selecting the dining room suite + table +c. I think it would be best to have them put in the house after I get there love, there will be Friday + Saturday.
I think it was better to get the sprung chairs instead of the stuffed ones.
I have not said anything to mother about buying the bedstead love + I would rather not now, as she has bought me a many other things so I think we will have the Italian one we saw at Punch brothers. I have some damask for valances + the padding at the back so love that will save a pound.
It is turning out very wet this afternoon. Jinnie R + Ellen Staniforth were coming up but I think they will not venture now.
It is Treeton Feast tomorrow our Emma is going. They have let me off of the waiting this afternoon to get on with my sewing.
I am glad Mr Cooper seems better in health now he has got back, it was a bad job the accident occurred how are the men getting on that got hurt seriously. I am glad you + Secretary get on all right love.
I am so glad you are coming on the Tuesday love, I suppose you will allow me to come + meet you, it will be a glorious meeting after being parted so long my darling won’t it? For it seems many a month since I saw you.

Stacey leaves Sheffield at three oclock so could not bring your portmanteau but Mr Allen I am sure will, I will name it to him, Mr Allen would bring it from the station love if you like as he has to go up with the letters.
Teresa Revitt told me last night that she has bought me the Platter but not the knife so I don’t know what I am to say love about Mr Marston getting the same.

You had better get some blind window rollers love.
You did not tell me there was no Venetian blinds but I thought there was not, as you gave me the measures for all the blinds. I ordered the material last night at Mrs Allens.

Miss Dalton has written to say she is very sorry but will be obliged to decline my invitation for the 12th as Miss Graves is away ill + will not be back for some weeks + Mr + Mrs Elliot are ill She does not say that she has been ill. And she also says that Ted will not come she thinks without her, + wants to know if I am almost ready for the happy “event,” + she will try to come + see me before I change my name as we shall be married women before we meet again.

It is your mothers birthday on Monday. Louisa is going to make a little party I was to go but cannot because of having the supper
I received the other dozen of cake boxes last night Mr Allen brought them up from Darnall.
I am making the short curtains for our window to day.
I shall have to give up now darling
I remain alwaysYour loving true + faithful Wife
Janie
P.S. I love you more than ever my husband


Albert Terrace
Linthorpe Road
Middlesbrough
October 1st 1882
My own darling Wife
I received your welcome letter yesterday for which I thank you. I do not mind it being short love, seeing that it is an additional one.
I am pleased to hear that Mother + little Walter are better + that they others are well.
I received the sprig of thyme but did not think what it was for. I thought it was lavender. I know love it is a long time since I wrote home. I seem to have no time for nothing just now. I think I shall let you write my letters for me love, when we are married.
I am much obliged to our Arthur for the meat jack, it will be a treat to have some roast meat I have not had any here so far.
Haven’t you left your dress almost too late love; if she should not get it done on time it will be awkward.
I saw the advertisement + report of the conversazione at Darnall. I suppose it was very good love.
---
I receive your other very welcome letter darling this morning. Sunday would be very dreary without your usual letter love.
I see I blamed the Railway Co without cause over the portmanteau strap love. I know it was very poor + have got it repaired. I think it will last a long time now.
I hope my darling wife will be happy. I do know she loves me very dearly.
I am pleased that I have done right in choosing the dining room suite +c, + will instruct them to deliver on the Friday. I am glad you think I did right in getting the spring chairs love.
Perhaps it would not be right to mention the bedstead to your mother love, seeing that she has been so good in other ways. I will eave the choosing of that also until you come darling.

I thought it must be about  Treeton Feast time love, do you remember the first time that you + I went love – what an enjoyable walk home love we had.
I think the men that got hurt are much better love, I did not hear anything about them yesterday.
I am very glad that they gave you an opportunity of doing some sewing love, you will need it all to get it done.
I shall be very pleased to allow you to meet me darling on the Tuesday. What a meeting it will be my little wife! It does seem a long time since I saw you love, but it only wants nine days now wifie?
I thought Stacey left Sheffield sooner than six. I shall be much obliged to Mr Allen if he will bring my portmanteau up with him. You must let me know what he says darling.
I will tell Mr Marston that we have got the Platter love. I am going there this afternoon to tea, + then to St Paul’s Church it is Harvest Thanksgiving there.
I will get some blind rollers love, as soon as possible. I wish there were Venetian blinds love, but it cannot be helped. Marston’s + Davis’s havent them. Marston says they are common but I do not mind that.
I am sorry that Ted + Miss Dalton cannot come, I wonder if he is vexed because I did not ask him to be best man. I could not ask them all love could I?
I had forgot all about my mother’s birthday love, but I think it cannot be October 2nd. I thought it was something in September. It will be the first birthday party I have missed love.
I am glad you received the remainder of the cake boxes all right love. Have you got the cards yet. If not I must touch P+Bro up about them.
They have finished painting + papering the house love, + I have paid £2 towards it; I did not think of paying him for a month but money is hard to get in Middlesbro’ and he assured me that he had no money to pay the wages with, so I will let him have it. 

I dont think the gas Co have made the gas connection. I shall go + see them tomorrow.
I played at Football yesterday […] at Redcar. We won 2 to 0. I feel rather stiff today. It rained almost all the time we were playing + was very dull on the promenade, not at all like Redcar in the middle of summer.

I dont know if Mrs Gordon has got anybody for her front rooms. I must go + see her sometime this week.

Have you looked how the trains run love – I think we shall have to leave Sheffield about four to get here by ten – if we leave by the later train we do not get here until 12 pm which is very late. I have been thinking if we could get on at Attercliffe it would perhaps be more convenient; but I dont know. 
I suppose we shall have a cab from your house to the station love.
Will the furniture come before our marriage love or after? Have you made any arrangements about it.
It would be the second time of asking this morning love, only once more now. I wish it was here love I cannot sleep for thinking of it, + you. It will be glorious to be with you always. I shall not have any miserable sleepless nights then love.
I have ordered the sofa to be left hand, is that right. You see the room is like this:

and here Fred has included a tiny drawing of a front room with a bay window, where he’s has depicted the window to the left, and the fireplace to the top the sketch. The sofa is on the bottom wall opposite the fireplace, and to the right he’s marked a “sideboard or piano (when we get one)”

He continues:

The firm [of lodgers] has had its last Sunday dinner together, as Tom is coming to Sheffield to play at Football next Saturday + will stay over the Sunday.
Mr Bankes expressed his sorrow that I was going to join the army of martyrs, in which sorrow I of course joined. I have been wondering how I am going to get up at 7 oclock to make the fire, for 8.30 has been more our time lately, but I expect that will come in good time.
I love you my darling more than ever
+ will always remain
Your loving true + faithful husband
Fred

So, that was the first letter of October, and in the following 8 days Fred and Janie send to each other a total of 9 letters, which means that next time we’ll be in that frantic final week before the wedding. It also interesting that Fred and Janie are both now starting to reflect in their letters that the time of writing to each other is coming to an end. I must confess that even as I look at the ever dwindling pile of letters in front of me, I’m feeling quite emotional. I am recording this particular episode on Thursday 12th of October 2023, exactly 141 years to the day of their wedding. I know I called this podcast My Love Letter Time Machine, but clutching these last few letters in my hand, how can Fred and Janie be so far away? I know them so well now. I don’t want the letters to end. I don’t want this journey to end. I think I feel a little like Janie’s parents and friends must have done, to be preparing for that wedding knowing that afterwards she’ll be getting on a train to Middlesbrough — off to live happily ever after — without me. 

[outro]
Thank you so much for listening to My Love Letter Time Machine. I’d very much like to get the podcast up the charts a bit more, so If you haven’t already - can I ask to leave a review on your podcast app if if there is a space to? It really helps with the algorithm. I’m still putting excerpts of Fred and Janie’s letters on instagram at my love letter time machine all one word and you are very welcome to write to me at my love letter time machine at gmail dot com.

Until next time, take care.
© Ingrid Birchell Hughes 2023