The twelve BT Telephone Exchanges (and eleven former) in the Canterbury (01227) telephone area
Barham former ATE
The former Barham exchange is in Valley Road, Barham, Canterbury CT4 6NX.
It came into service as a UAX13 in 1939.
Upon closure subscribers were transferred to the nearby Bridge exchange.
After closure it was sold off in 1987. It is now a private house called Bell Cottage.
Its dialling code was 022 782.
Photo courtesy of Rightmove.
Boughton ATE
Boughton former ATE
Bridge ATE
Bridge former ATE
Canterbury ATE
Canterbury – Becket House
Chartham ATE
Chartham former ATE
Chestfield ATE
Chestfield former ATE
Chislet ATE
ID: NDCHI. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Chilham former ATE
Photo taken in 1948 courtesy of BT Archives.
Photo taken in 2022 courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Herne Bay ATE
Herne Bay Telephone Exchange is located in Victoria Park, Herne Bay CT6 5BH and serves Herne bay and the surrounding area.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 01227-3 and 01227-74.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 73.
ID: NDHBA. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Petham ATE
Petham telephone exchange is located in Town Road, Petham, Canterbury CT4 5QT and serves Petham and the surrounding villages.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01227-700.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 770.
ID: NDPET. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Preston former ATE
The former Preston Telephone Exchange is located in The Street, Preston, Canterbury CT3 1ED and served Elmstone, Preston and the surrounding area.
The building has since been converted into a private dwelling and is called The Old Exchange.
When Preston closed in the 1980’s subscribers were transferred to the nearby Wingham exchange.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 781.
Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Selling former ATE
The former Selling Telephone Exchange is located in Selling Road, Selling, Faversham ME13 9RQ and served Selling and the surrounding area. The building is now privately owned is called The Old Exchange.
When Selling closed in the 1980’s subscribers were transferred to the nearby Boughton exchange.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 785.
Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Stelling Minnis ATE
Stelling Minnis Telephone Exchange is located in Stelling Minnis, Canterbury CT4 6AE and serves Stelling Minnis and the surrounding area.
The telephone codes for this exchange include 01227-709.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 787.
ID: NDSMI. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Stelling Minnis former ATE
The former Stelling Minnis exchange stands in Bossingham Road, Stelling Minnis, Canterbury CT4 6AZ.
Having opened as an RAX5 in 1932, it achieved brief celebrity on 7 September 1949 when Britain’s five millionth telephone – supplied to farmer H.M. Hawkins – was connected to it.
It was replaced by the current exchange in Curtis Lane and is now privately owned.
It did not have a national dialling code.
ID: NDSMI. Photo (1949) courtesy of BT Archives.
Sturry ATE
Sturry Telephone Exchange is located in Sturry Hill, Sturry, Canterbury CT2 0NG and serves Sturry and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01227-71.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 771.
ID: NDSTU. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Sturry former ATE
The former Sturry Telephone Exchange was located in Sturry, Canterbury CT2 and served Sturry and the surrounding area.
It was equipped with a UAX13.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 771.
ID: NDSTU. Map courtesy of National Library of Scotland.
Whitstable ATE
Whitstable Telephone Exchange is located in Tankerton Road, Whitstable CT5 2AE and serves Whitstable and the surrounding area.
This photo shows the original building.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01227-2.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 72.
ID: NDWHI. Photo courtesy of Andy Hebden.
Whitstable ATE
Whitstable Telephone Exchange is located in Tankerton Road, Whitstable CT5 2AE and serves Whitstable and the surrounding area.
This photo shows the new exchange building which was added at a later date.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01227-2.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 72.
ID: NDWHI. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
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Wingham ATE
Wingham Telephone Exchange is located in Cherville Lane, Wingham, Canterbury CT3 1LZ and serves Bramling, Wingham and the surrounding villages.
The telephone codes for this exchange is 01227-72.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 772.
ID: NDWIN. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Wingham former ATE
The former Wingham Telephone Exchange was located in Wingham, Canterbury CT3 and served Bramling, Wingham and the surrounding villages.
The telephone codes for this exchange was 01227-72.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 022 772.
ID: NDWIN. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Other former Canterbury Exchanges
- Blean Former ExchangeBlean telephone exchange was a UAX13 in service between about 1937 and 1986. It has been replaced by a house - 2 Tyler Hill Road, Blean, Canterbury CT2 9LX. Its dialling code was 022 777.
- Littlebourne Former ExchangeLittlebourne ATE was a UAX in service from the mid-1950s to the early 1980s. It stood in what is now the garden of 19 High Street, Littlebourne, Canterbury CT3 1SX. Its dialling code was 022 778.