30/06/2026
📆 Born on this day in 1792, Thomas Edmondson. As a young man Thomas worked initially for the famous local furniture manufacturers Gillow, before moving on to employment in the emerging railway industry. 🚂
It was whilst working as a station master on the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway that he devised a small pre-printed railway ticket, replacing the common handwritten bills of the time, and later a machine to easily print these tickets in large batches. These tickets eventually became a standard issue on railway lines around the globe. 🎟
By the time he died in Manchester in 1851 his inventions had made him quite a wealthy man. An example of Edmondson's revolutionary ticket machine can be found on display at Lancaster City Museums. 🏫
The site of Thomas' birthplace on Moor Lane in Lancaster was, for many years, in a very poor state of repair. In more recent times Lancaster High Streets Heritage Action Zone have helped restore many properties in the area, giving the building a new lease of life. It is now occupied by Stonewell Spring Delicatessen & Wine Bar! 🥂
British Guild of Tourist Guides visit Lancashire Lancaster and Morecambe Bay Love Lancaster BID Bay Tourism Association NWTGA - North West Tourist Guides Association