The Development of Telecoms - Bedford
This area covers the whole of Bedfordshire and parts of Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire – a total of 865 square miles.
Bedford is situated on the Ouse and has many historical associations, perhaps the best known being its link with John Bunyan (the author of Pilgrims Progress). It is an important educational centre and its famous Grammar School was founded in 1552.
The area, mainly agricultural, includes the town of Luton, formerly world-renowned as the centre of the straw hat trade and still famous for hats; but more important new industries in Luton are those concerned with the manufacture of motor vehicles, ball bearings, etc. Other world-famous engineering firms exist at Bedford, which is also a centre for brick making.
The rapidly expanding satellite towns of Hemel Hempstead and Stevenage are in the area and exceptional telephone growth is therefore expected soon.
The number of exchange lines at present is 26,586 and stations 48,174. There are 86 exchanges, of which 70 are automatic. Staff employed in the area numbers 680.
