Hixon History Society

The March meeting was a talk given by Shaun Farrelly about the post-war move to Yarnfield by the GPO. Pre-war training of technicians and research was carried out at premises in London but after the war, with London obliterated, regional areas were used at Otley (Yorkshire), Birmingham and Cambridge. There was a strong need to retrain original engineers, recruit and train new technicians and to modernise the 1912 network from an operator led to a dialing system. A new residential training school was required, but a lack of money meant a 10 year wait for new-builds. The Yarnfield halls of Duncan, Howard and Beatty were occupied by the United States Air Force but were deemed surplus to requirements in 1942 and so the GPO took them over in 1946 to run residential courses lasting 13 weeks (with only 2 home visits allowed). Beatty Hall was used for married quarters for the school staff; Duncan Hall for lectures, training and practical rooms, and Howard Hall as accommodation for students, and single school staff. The area was popular with many and students enjoyed visits to Jollies, The Wayfarer at Stone or the local transport cafe known as The Greasy Spoon. In 1958 a new central Training school was planned and a suitable site was found in Harlow, Essex in 1961. However there was much dissent amongst the staff, pupils and Stone RDC over the problem of moving and the cost of houses, and the plan was cancelled in 1964. Then in 1970, a new plan to redevelop the whole site  including 650 workshops and accommodation for Fleet management at the disused rail terminal at Cold Meece. This project was completed in 1978 when GPO changed to British Telecom. But from 1989, there was a gradual process of closure and demolition and the site was vacated in 2006 and later sold for development. It is now privately owned and known as Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre.

Our next meeting will be a week later than normal on April 14th when Jill Crowther will talk about the American GIs at Blythe Colours Cresswell. At the May meeting of the Hixon History Society we will be hearing about The Rugeley Poisoner.

All meetings start at 8.00pm. 

The fee is £2-00 per person. All welcome. 

John Egginton