The telephone exchange was integral to the development of the telephone system. Its use has changed since the invention of the telephone, and as we move into VoIP telephone systems, the telephone exchange buildings are changing their use. This project aims to capture that change.
The invention of the telephone was the culmination of work done by many different people, and led to an array of lawsuits relating to the conflicting patent claims made by several individuals and numerous companies. Notable people included in this process were Antonio Meucci, Philipp Reis, Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell.
Traditional telephone exchanges are being phased out and modernized worldwide as analog copper networks transition to high-speed digital fibre-optic infrastructure and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). In the UK, Openreach is consolidating thousands of legacy local exchanges down into a smaller group of efficient "Super Digital Exchanges," leading to hundreds of traditional building closures and property redevelopments. Many buildings are now in a state of disrepair.
This is what remains...
Lancashire
Cumbria