The Development of Telecoms - Guildford
The earliest line of communication left in this country is the Old Road. Along it travelled pre-Roman Britons seeking new settlements. Much later the road was called the Pilgrim's Way, because of its use by Chaucer's pilgrims, traveling to Canterbury "the holy blissful martyr for to seek”. The Old Road can still be traced along the North Downs – the principal geographical feature in a telephone area of 750 square miles.
The area is mainly residential, community life being centred on Guildford, Aldershot, Basingstoke, Camberley, Dorking, Farnham, Godalming, Haslemere and Woking.
Light industry lately been attracted to most towns, notably Basingstoke and Woking. Aldershot and Camberley are well known in military history. There is everywhere a lively farming industry.
As modern successors of those who made the Old Road, the Post Office now provide telephone communications through 69 exchanges, serving 66,300 telephones. The staff (excluding operators) numbers 485 and the annual revenue approaches £1,000,000.
