The ten BT Telephone Exchanges (and twelve former) in the Dursley (01453) telephone area
Amberley ATE
Amberley telephone exchange is situated off Epworth Terrace in Amberley, Stroud, GL5 5AU.
The first auto exchange here came into service as a UAX14 in early 1946 to replace a manual exchange. It was converted to digital working in 1989.
Its telephone dialling codes include 01453-87.
Its former dialling code was 045 387.
ID: SSAMB. Photo courtesy of Bill Liebow.
Amberley former Manual Exchange
Amberley’s manual exchange was opened around 1905 by the National Telephone Company. The location of the exchange pictured here is unknown to us. The telephone service in Amberley remained manually operated until 1946.
Picture (c 1910): Courtesy of BT Archives.
Berkeley ATE
Berkeley telephone exchange stands behind 38 Salter Street, Berkeley GL13 9DB.
It came into service in 1980, replacing Berkeley and Sharpness UAXs, their lines becoming Dursley 810*** and 811*** respectively.
The first Berkeley exchange was opened by the National Telephone company in 1900 in Salter Street. The service remained manually operated until the opening in 1950 of a UAX13 in Marybrook Street shown on Google Maps HERE.
The telephone codes for Berkeley exchange include 01453-51 and 01453-81.
Its former dialling code was 0453.
The dialling code of its predecessor exchange was 045 381.
ID: SSBKE. Photo courtesy of Bill Liebow.
Brimscombe ATE
Brimscombe telephone exchange (seen here on the right) is in London Road, Brimscombe, Stroud GL5 2RT.
It came into service in 1980 to replace the former UAX14 when lines became Brimscombe 88****.
Its telephone dialling codes include 01453-73 and 01453-88.
Its former dialling code was 0453.
ID: SSBRI. Photo courtesy of Jaggery
Brimscombe former ATE
The former Brimscombe exchange is London Road, Brimscombe, Stroud GL5 2SA
It came into service as a UAX 14 around 1940. It closed in 1980 and is is now a house called The Old Telephone Exchange.
Its dialling code was 045 388.
ID: SSBRI. Photo courtesy of Jaggery.
Cambridge ATE
Cambridge telephone exchange is in Wisloe Road, Cambridge, Gloucester GL2 7AF.
It came into service in 1949 as a UAX12.
Its telephone dialling codes include 01453-89.
Its former dialling code was 045 389.
ID: SSCGE. Photo courtesy of Rolly Bastian.
Dursley ATE
Dursley telephone exchange is in Parsonage Street, Dursley GL11 4DR.
It came into service as a non-director exchange in the 1940s at the post office, built in the late 1930s. It was later extended to the rear and the former post office is now a private health clinic.
Its telephone dialling codes include 01453-54.
Its former dialling code was 0453.
ID: SSDSY. Photo (2012) courtesy of David Dixon.
Dursley former Manual Exchange
Dursley’s former manual telephone exchange was in Parsonage Street, Dursley (now GL11 4BW).
It opened in 1900 and the service remained manually operated until automation in the 1940s.
Picture: Courtesy of BT Archives.
Jenner former Relief Exchange
Jenner was the name given to a three-digit relief unit at Berkeley telephone exchange. It was in service for a brief period around 1979 and 1980 prior to the opening of the current Berkeley exchange. It was named after Edward Jenner, the father of vaccination, who was born in the town.
Its former dialling code was 045 35.
Picture: Post Office dialling code booklet, 1979.
Nailsworth ATE
Nailsworth telephone exchange is in Bridge Street, Nailsworth, Stroud GL6 0AD,
It came into service in 1969 to replace a manual exchange. It was converted to digital working on 5 March 1991.
Its telephone dialling codes include 01453-83.
Its former dialling code was 045 383
ID: SSNAH. Picture: Courtesy of Jaggery.
Nailsworth former Manual Exchange
Nailsworth’s manual exchange was at 1 Market Street, Nailsworth, Stroud (now GL6 4BX). The first exchange here was opened in late 1895 or early 1896. The service remained manually operated for more than 70 years. The building is currently (2024) a dress shop.
Picture: Courtesy of BT Archives.
Sharpness former Manual Exchange
Sharpness’s manual telephone exchange was at 17 Dock Road, Sharpness, Berkeley GL13 9UA, now a private house.
The first exchange here came into service around 1895. The service was manually operated until the 1930s when a UAX13 was opened just off Bridge Street. The UAX was demolished and replaced in 1980 by the current Berkeley exchange.
The dialling code of the UAX was 045 384.
Picture: Courtesy of BT Archives.
Stonehouse ATE
Stonehouse telephone exchange is in College View, Stonehouse GL10 2JR.
It came into service in 1965 to replace a manual exchange. It was converted to digital working in January 1991.
Its telephone dialling codes include 01453-79 and 01453-82.
Its former dialling code was 045 382.
ID: SSSHE. Photo courtesy of Jaggery.
Stonehouse former Manual Exchange
Stonehouse’s former manual exchange was in Great Western Road (now 22 Burdett Road, Stonehouse GL10 2JW).
The telephone service came to Stonehouse as early as 1895. The exchange was later moved to the post office and the building is now a private house again.
Picture: Courtesy of BT Archives.
Stonehouse former Manual Exchange
For several years, Stonehouse manual exchange was sited in the former post office at 23 High Street, Stonehouse GL10 2NG. It ceased operation some time before the post office closed in 1933. The building is now a hardware shop.
Picture: Courtesy of Hurns Home Hardware.
Stonehouse former Manual Exchange
In 1932, Stonehouse manual exchange was moved to the first floor of 3 High Street, Stonehouse (now GL10 2NG).
A CBS2 board, it remained in service until 1965 when the current exchange opened. The photograph shows operators Clarice Russell and (looking at the clock) Margaret Mutton. The building is now (2024) occupied by Daniels TV shop.
There is more on the history of the Stonehouse exchanges HERE.
Picture (c 1955): Courtesy of Stonehouse History Group.
Stroud ATE
Stroud telephone exchange is in Lodgemore Lane, Stroud GL5 3EG.
It came into service on 17 December 1968 to replace a manual exchange in the post office. Present at the opening was Florence Thomas, then 86, who had been an operator at the first exchange in Russel Street.
Its telephone dialling codes include 01453-75 and 01453-76.
Its former dialling code was 045 36.
ID: SSSTD. Photo courtesy of Bill Liebow.
Stroud former Manual Exchange
A former Stroud telephone exchange was at 42 London Road, Stroud (now GL5 2AJ). It was opened around 1900 to replace the National Telephone Company’s first Stroud exchange, opened in Russell Street in 1895. A magneto exchange, it closed in January 1922 and the building is now (2024) offices.
Picture: Courtesy of BT Archives.
Stroud former Manual Exchange
The last manual telephone exchange in Stroud was housed at the then post office at 15-17 Russell Street, Stroud GL5 3AA.
It came into service in January 1922 to replace the former exchange in London Road. It closed on 17 December 1968 and the building is now a pub.
Picture: Courtesy of Roger Cornfoot.
Uley ATE
Uley telephone exchange is in Raglan Way, Uley, Dursley
It came into service in 1980 when lines became Dursley 860*** numbers. It replaced a UAX built in 1936 beside the B4066 (exact location unknown to us).
Its telephone dialling codes include 01453-86
The dialling code of its predecessor exchange was 045 386.
ID: SSULY. Photo courtesy of Bill Liebow.
Wotton-under-Edge ATE
Wotton-under-Edge telephone exchange is in Clarence Road, Wotton-under-Edge GL12 7EY.
It came into service around 1949 as a UAX14, replacing a manual exchange. In 1983 lines became Dursley 84**** numbers.
Its telephone dialling codes include 01453-52 and 01453-84.
Its former dialling code was 045 385.
ID: SSWUE. Photo courtesy of Rolly Bastian.
Wotton-under-Edge former Manual Exchange
Wotton-under-Edge manual telephone exchange was at 7 Bear Street, Wotton-under-Edge GL12 7DF.
It came into operation in September 1906. The telephone service here remained manually operated until about 1949. It is now a private house again.
Picture: Courtesy of The Move Market.