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Discover and Learn Area

Local history

The First telephone
Before telephone’s were invented, people had to rely on other methods of communication with letter writing being the most popular however unreliable. It’s not surprising to think this due to letters taking weeks to arrive or simply getting lost! If you wanted to meet up with a friend or attend an event, the only way was to post a letter until the telegraph was invented…
What is a telegraph? Simply, a telegraph is a machine that transmits electrical signals over wires and could be done so over a long distances. No words were used but simple beeping sounds which you would translate using morse code.
After telegraph came the radio, then the telephone. The telephone was invented by Scottish born Alexander Graham Bell creating the first patent telephone in 1876. The first successful words to be spoken using this fascinatingly new instrument were from Bell to his associate Thomas Watson ‘Mr Watson, come here – I want to see you.’

 

 

(Image: Bell calling Chicago from New York 1892. Source: Historic England) 
At our Station we have an interactive telephone, with a selection of oral interviews from local residents who know and have used the station. Check out the interviews by clicking on the names and learning a little more about local history >
Audio recordings: 

Who are you?

Derrick Rodger
Linda Rodger
Bryon Brown
Ed Thompson

The Station

Derrick Rodger
Linda Rodger
Ed Thompson
Bryon Brown

Living in the Station House
Derrick Rodger
Linda Rodger

Pubs in the Local area

Byron Brown

Station Restoration

Derrick Rodger
Linda Rodger
Ed Thompson

Bat and Ball Station Road Layout

Derrick Rodger
Linda Rodger


St Johns Area

Bryon Brown
Linda Rodger

Station Master Norman

  • Derrick Rodger
    • Linda Rodger
    Ed Thompson

    The Lurcher

    Derrick Rodger and Linda Rodger

    Signal Box

    Ed Thompson 

    Create & Make

    If you haven't had the chance to come along to our Station Create & Make sessions, we've uploaded some fun activities you can make at home! 

    Click on the one you'd like to do and download




    How have the Victorians influenced us?

    Click on the image below to reveal how the Victorians have influenced and shaped our society





    Amazing Victorian Inventions

    Click on the Inventions below to reveal their history!

    Coming Soon... 

    Coming Soon...  

    Coming Soon...  

     

    Film clips from the Victorian Era

    The Victorians designed and created some amazing inventions, some of which we still use today! The transformation from the Georgian era to the Victorian era changed our landscape as we see today and all over the world. Before there were no cars, no electricity, factories, or railways.

    The British Film Institute(BFI) have an incredible selection of short clips and videos from the Victorian era which you can use for free. These are collected form national and regional archives. Take a look below are a few clips we've selected which showcase the best of the Victorian era: 

     

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