Friar’s Street and Telephone Exchange
Early Twentieth Century
Friar Street or, as It was known earlier, Friar’s Wynd about the beginning of the twentieth century. Note Dale the hairdresser and perfumery and the telephone exchange sign. The National Telephone Company brought the phone to Stirling in 1886.
There were two numbers initially in the town. One was the Golden Lion Hotel and one was Johnstone’s, the fish merchant, in Port Street. This soon expanded to various other businesses and homes and, despite some opposition because of wires being trailed through trees etc., the phone came into widespread usage. Most homes did not, however, have one.
The first purpose-built exchange was at 79 Murray Place, on the corner of Friar’s St., with a bank on the ground floor. (Now Oxfam shop and Willy Wallace backpacker's hostel above)