SWITCHBOARD operators are calling up memories today as Yesterday Once More takes a look at York's telephone exchange heritage.

Last year's closure of the Stonebow centre ended an era which had started in 1886 with 11 subscribers using the National Telephone Company in Parliament Street.

In 1955, the Stonebow exchange opened with 5,928 telephone lines and 11,255 sets connected.

It closed with 202,000 customers receiving services from ordinary telephones to high-speed internet access.

A recent downturn in the number of people using directory inquiries prompted BT to close the centre down.

Our pictures show the apparent complications involved in working with thousands of wires to connect calls, though the staff seem to have few problems.

A technician is shown getting to grips with the increasingly - sophisticated nature of communications in 1972.

The skill of the staff is shown by a line of workers in 1976.

Although huge technological advances had been made, the equipment seems to have changed little from one used in our earliest picture, taken in 1907.

Though the staff concentrated on connecting calls, important events failed to pass them by, as shown by the picture taken during the Queen's Jubilee in 1977.

The flowers and bunting were organised by the employees.

Updated: 12:14 Friday, July 04, 2003