The nine BT Telephone Exchanges (and three formers) in the Dorchester (01305) telephone area
Abbotsbury ATE
Abbotsbury Telephone Exchange is situated in Goose Hill, Portesham, Weymouth DT3 4HE and serves Abbotsbury, Portesham and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01305-87.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 587.
ID: STABTSY. Photo courtesy of Nigel Mykura.
Dorchester ATE
Dorchester Telephone Exchange is located in South Walks Road, Dorchester DT1 1EA and serves Dorchester, Fordington, Poundbury and the surrounding area.
The telephone codes for this exchange include 01305-20, 01305-21, 01305-22, 01305-25 and 01305-26.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 52.
ID: STDORCH. Photo courtesy of Geoff Trim.
Dorchester former ATE
The former Dorchester Telephone Exchange is located on the junction of Trinity Street and New Street, Dorchester DT1 1DH and served Dorchester, Fordington, Poundbury and the surrounding area.
The building served as post office/delivery office and exchange. The front elevation has been modified since closure to reflect its current use as a retail unit.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 52.
ID: STDORCH. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.
Martinstown ATE
Martinstown Telephone Exchange is located on the B3159 in Martinstown, Dorchester DT2 9HB and serves Martinstown, Winterbourne Steepleton and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01305-88.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 588.
ID: STMARTN. Photo courtesy of Brian Stalker.
Portland ATE
Portland Telephone Exchange is located in Yeates Road, Isle of Portland DT5 2EN and serves Castletown, Easton, Grove, Southwell, Wakeham and and Weston.
The former Portland ATE was located just off Tillycombe Road, Portland DT5 and was equipped with a UAX7.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 01305-82 and 01305-86.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 582.
ID: STPORTL. Photo courtesy of Stacey Harris.
Preston ATE
Preston Telephone Exchange is located in Preston Road, Weymouth DT3 6AZ 2 and serves Preston, Osmington, Sutton Poyntz and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01305-83.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 583.
ID: STPRSTN. Photo courtesy of Brian Stalker.
Puddletown ATE
Puddletown Telephone Exchange is located in The Square, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 8SL and serves Puddletown and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01305-84.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 584.
ID: STPUDTN. Photo courtesy of Brian Stalker.
Upwey ATE
Upwey Telephone Exchange is located in Jesty’s Avenue, Broadwey, Weymouth DT3 5NN and serves Bincombe, Broadwey, Nottington, Upwey and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01305-81.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 581.
ID: STUPWEY. Photo courtesy of Jaggery.
Warmwell ATE
Warmwell Telephone Exchange is located in Gallows Hill, Owermoigne, Dorchester DT2 8HL and serves Owermoigne, Warmwell, Watercombe and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01305-85.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 585.
ID: STWRMWL. Photo courtesy of Brian Stalker.
Warmwell former ATE
The former Warmwell Telephone Exchange is located
at Warmwell Cross (junction of A352 & A354), Warmwell, Dorchester DT2 8HH and served Owermoigne, Warmwell, Watercombe and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01305-85.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 585.
ID: STWRMWL. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.
Weymouth ATE
Weymouth Telephone Exchange is located in Lower St Alban Street, Weymouth DT4 8EE and serves Weymouth and the surrounding area.
The telephone codes for this exchange include 01305-76, 01305-77 and 01305-78.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 57.
ID: STWEYMH. Photo courtesy of Brian Stalker.
Winfrith former ATE
The former Winfrith Telephone Exchange is in Wareham Road, Winfrith, Dorchester DT2 8LE.
It came into service in the late 1930s as a UAX12. It closed around 1972 when most lines were taken over by Warmwell exchange as Warmwell 852*** numbers. It is now a complementary health clinic.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 030 586.
Picture courtesy of The Egdon Heath Clinic.