Archaeology

Archaeology is to do with the study of how people lived in the past. The car showroom at the end of my street is having some changes to its shop fittings and I notice that it was previously a florists. Most interesting is the telephone number given SPE 0555. This goes back to the days when Telephone numbers in London had names rather than numbers. The Childs Hill/Golders Green exchange was Speedwell. This system lasted until the late sixties. A list can be found here.
As for the name I found this in Hansard

GOLDERS GREEN (TELEPHONE EXCHANGE)

HC Deb 25 February 1924 vol 170 c101W 101W

§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is proposed to call the exchange, now being installed at Golders Green, Speedwell; and whether he will consider giving the exchange a name more indicative of and appropriate to the district?

§ Mr. HARTSHORN

The name "Speedwell" has been selected for the Exchange shortly to be opened at Golders Green. The name "Golders Green" could not be used because its numerical equivalent is the same as that of Holborn, and, under the automatic telephone system which will be introduced in London, no two names can have the same equivalent. A large number of names more indicative of the district (included some suggested by the urban district council) were tested, but had to be rejected for the same reason, or because of their liability to confusion over the telephone with other Exchange names and consequent risk of error.