The fourteen BT Telephone Exchanges (and three former) in the Harrogate (01423) telephone area
Up until the late 1980’s Boroughbridge had the STD code 0901 and Harrogate had the STD code 0423. In order to free up space for mobile, non-geographic, premium rate and pager services, this area was one of sixteen of the original STD codes with low number use which were merged into fourteen existing number ranges so that each area code would cover multiple charge groups.
Birstwith ATE
Birstwith telephone exchange is located in Nidd Lane, Birstwith, Harrogate HG3 3AJ and also covers an area including Ripley and Hampsthwaite.
It came into service around 1970, replacing an earlier auto exchange, when Birstwith lines became Harrogate 770*** numbers. An RAX5, location unknown, was opened here in the early 1930s, superseded by a U13 around 1945.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01423-77.
Its former dialling code was 042 377.
ID: MYBIR. Photo taken by Mike Fletcher.
Boroughbridge ATE
Boroughbridge telephone exchange is situated in York Road, Boroughbridge, York YO51 9EW and also covers an area including Roecliffe, Minskip, Langthorpe and Kirby Hill.
It succeeded an earlier auto exchange (location unknown) which came into service on 11 June 1951 to replace a manual exchange.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01423-32.
Its former dialling code was 090 12.
ID: MYBOR. Awaiting photo.
Copgrove ATE
Copgrove telephone exchange is located in Arkendale Road, Staveley, Harrogate HG3 3TA and covers an area including Copgrove, Staveley and Ferrensby.
The first auto exchange here came into service as a U12 around 1945 to replace a manual exchange.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01423-340.
Its former dialling code was 090 14.
ID: MYCOP. Awaiting photo.
Darley ATE
Darley telephone exchange is situated beside the B6451 south of Dacre Banks, Harrogate HG3 4ER and also covers an area including Summerbridge and Braithwaite.
The first auto exchange here was a U13 which came into service in the late 1940s to replace the Darley manual board.
The principal telephone codes for this exchange are 01423-780 and 01423-781.
Its former dialling code was 042 372.
ID: MYDAR. Photo taken by Mike Fletcher.
Green Hammerton ATE
Green Hammerton telephone exchange is situated off Boroughbridge Road, Green Hammerton, York YO26 8AE and also covers an area including Kirk Hammerton, Whixley and Tancred. It came into service to replace the former auto exchange in Barnard Lane.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01423-330.
Its former dialling code was 0423.
ID: MYGRE. Photo courtesy of Mike Fletcher.
Green Hammerton former ATE
The former Green Hammerton telephone exchange is located in Barnard Lane, Green Hammerton, York YO26 8BP.
It came into service, probably in the late 1930s, as a UAX13.
Its former dialling code was 090 13.
ID: MYGRE. Photo courtesy of Mike Fletcher.
Harrogate Spa ATE
Harrogate (Spa) telephone exchange is located in Back Royal Parade, Harrogate HG2 0NG and mainly covers central Harrogate.
It was built in the 1960s to replace an auto exchange which opened in 1927.
The principal telephone codes for this exchange include 01423-21, 01423-50, 01423-52, 01423-56 and 01423-70.
Its former dialling code was 0423.
ID: MYHGT. Photo taken by Mike Fletcher.
Harrogate former Manual Exchange
The original Harrogate manual telephone exchange was at 1 Cambridge Terrace, off Parliament Street, Harrogate HG1 1PN. It came into service in 1890.
Named latterly as Harrogate Central, it was replaced by a non-director automatic exchange on Saturday 26 February 1927.
It is now used as a holiday let.
Helperby ATE
Helperby telephone exchange is located in Back Lane, Helperby, York YO61 2PL and also covers an area including Brafferton, Cundall and Humberton.
The first auto exchange here was a U12 which opened in the late 1930s to replace a manual board.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01423-360.
Its former dialling code was 090 16.
ID: MYHLP. Awaiting photo.
Huby ATE
Huby telephone exchange is situated in Strait Lane, Huby, Leeds LS17 0EA and also covers an area including Weeton, North Rigton and Castley.It came into service as a U13 around 1945, to replace a manual exchange.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01423-73.
Its former dialling code was 042 374.
ID: MYHUB. Picture: Courtesy of Mike Fletcher.
Knaresborough ATE
Knaresborough telephone exchange is located in Park Row, Knaresborough HG5 0BJ and also covers an area including Scotton, Calcutt and Goldsborough.
It replaced a previous auto exchange (location unknown) which came into service as a U7 in 1936.
The principal telephone codes for this exchange include 01423-86.
Its former dialling code was 042 376.
ID: MYKNA. Photo taken by Mike Fletcher.
Oatlands Mount ATE
Oatlands Mount telephone exchange is situated in Back Gladstone Street, Harrogate HG2 8DF and covers the southern part of Harrogate and surrounding area.
It came into service around 1937. The name was not used in directories, it being part of the Harrogate linked numbering scheme from the outset.
The principal telephone codes for this exchange include 01423-85 and 01423-87.
Its former dialling code was 0423.
ID: MYOAT. Photo taken by Mike Fletcher.
Pateley Bridge ATE
Pateley Bridge telephone exchange is located in Old Church Lane, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate HG3 5LB and also covers an area including Glasshouses, Bewerley and Heathfield.
The first exchange here was a manual board which opened in 1913. It was replaced by a UAX13 (location unknown) around 1947.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01423-71.
Its former dialling code was 042 373.
ID: MYPBG. Awaiting photo.
Ramsgill Dale ATE
Ramsgill Dale telephone exchange is situated halfway between Lofthouse and Ramsgill, Harrogate HG3 5RH and covers Upper Nidderdale.
It came into service as a UAX 12 in about 1948, replacing the Middlesmoor and Ramsgill manual exchanges. It was known as Ramsgill until 1954.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01423-755.
Its former dialling code was 042 375.
ID: MYRAM. Photo courtesy of J Thomas.
Ripley former ATE
The former Ripley (Yorkshire) telephone exchange once stood on the A61 Ripon Road in Killinghall, Harrogate HG3 2AY.
The building has since been demolished and forms a driveway to a private dwelling.
The first exchange here was a manual board opened in the 1890s at an address in the High Street, Ripley, also serving Killinghall and Hampsthwaite. It was replaced by an RAX5 in the early 1930s, and later a U13 which closed in the 1970s. Its lines were mainly taken over by Birstwith exchange as Harrogate 77**** numbers.
Its former dialling code was 042 378.
Map courtesy of National Library of Scotland.
Starbeck ATE
Starbeck telephone exchange is located in Knaresborough Road, Harrogate HG2 7LY and mainly covers the eastern part of Harrogate.
It came into service on Saturday 16 May 1936, taking over 452 lines from Harrogate and Knaresborough exchanges. The name Starbeck was not used in directories, it being part of the Harrogate linked numbering scheme from the outset.
The principal telephone codes for this exchange are 01423-81 and 01423-88.
Its former dialling code was 0423.
ID: MYSRB. Photo Taken by Mike Fletcher.
Tockwith ATE
Tockwith telephone exchange is situated in Cattall Road, Tockwith, York YO21 7QH and also covers an area including Bickerton, Cattall and Hunsingore.
It came into service as an RAX5 in the early 1930s.
The principal telephone codes for this exchange are 01423-358 and 01423-359.
Its former dialling code was 090 15.
ID: MYTOC. Photo courtesy of Mel Towler.