The ten BT Telephone Exchanges (and three former) in the Haywards Heath (01444) telephone area

Ardingly History Society
For a fascinating insight into the rich history of Ardingly Village in West Sussex, from the Romans to the present day, be sure to visit their website at Ardingly History Society. Articles include an index of place names, the people of Ardingly, King Henry III and the Battle of Lewes, life in the 18th Century, life in the 19th Century – to name just a few. There is also an Ardingly News page and a Who’s Who page.

Ardingly former Manual Exchange

Ardingly former TE
The former Ardingly manual telephone exchange was in the post office, 37 High Street, Ardingly, Haywards Heath  RH17 6TB.
It came into service in late 1909 or early 1910 and was operated by sub-postmaster Michael Cook. After his death in 1931, members of his family continued to run it until closure in 1948 when it was replaced by a UAX13 in Lindfield Road.
Picture (taken in 1015) courtesy of Ardingly History.org.uk

Ardingly former ATE

Ardingly former ATE
The former Ardingly telephone exchange is opposite Bingham’s Green Cottages on Lindfield Road, Ardingly, Haywards Heath RH17 6TS.
It came into service with 102 subscribers in the late summer of 1948 as a UAX13 to replace the manual exchange. It  closed at 1.30pm on Wednesday 19 January 1977 when lines were transferred to the current exchange as Ardingly 892*** numbers.
Photo courtesy of Ardingly History.org.uk

Ardingly ATE

Ardingly ATE
The current Ardingly Telephone Exchange is located in College Road, Ardingly , Haywards Heath RH17 6TU and serves Ardingly and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01444-89.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 044 488.

ID: SDRDNGL. Photo courtesy of Ardingly History.org.uk

Balcombe ATE

Balcombe ATE
Balcombe Telephone Exchange is located in Bramble Hill, Balcombe, Haywards Heath RH17 6HR and serves Balcombe and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01444-81.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 044 483.
ID: SDBLCMB. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.

Bolney ATE

Bolney ATE
Bolney Telephone Exchange is located in The Street, Bolney, Haywards Heath RH17 5PF and serves Bolney and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01444-88.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 044 482.
ID: SDBLNY. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.

Burgess Hill ATE

Burgess Hill ATE
Burgess Hill Telephone Exchange is located in Cyprus Road, Burgess Hill RH15 8DX and serves Burgess Hill and surrounding area.
The exchange was built in 1961 and opened on 26 June 1963.
On 1 July 1989 the old Strowger equipment was replaced by a System X exchange.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 01444-23, 01444-24, 01444-25 and 01444-87.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 044 46.
ID: SDBRGSS. Photo courtesy of Steve Turner.

Handcross ATE

Handcross ATE
Handcross Telephone Exchange is located in High Street, Handcross , Haywards Heath RH17 6BJ and serves Handcross and the surrounding villages.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01444-40.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 044 487.

ID: SDHNDCR. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.

Handcross former ATE

Photo required

The former Handcross exchange stands in Horsham Road, Handcross, Haywards Heath RH17 6DH.

It came into service as a UAX13 and closed on 23 February 1977 when lines became Handcross 400*** numbers.

It was sold in 1980 and is now in the grounds of a private house called High Peak.

Its dialling code was 044 487.

ID: SDHNDCR. Photo required.

Haywards Heath ATE

Haywards Heath ATE
Haywards Heath Telephone Exchange is located in Paddockhall Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1ES and serves Haywards Heath and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01444.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 0444.

ID: SDHYWRD. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.

Lindfield ATE

Lindfield ATE

Lindfield telephone exchange is located in Alma Road, Lindfield, Haywards Heath RH16 2HW and serves Lindfield and the surrounding area.

The telephone code for this exchange is 01444-48.

The former dialling code for this exchange was 044 47.

ID: SDLNDFL. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.

Scaynes Hill ATE

Scaynes Hill ATE

Scaynes Hill Telephone Exchange is located in Chapel Road, Scaynes Hill, Haywards Heath RH17 7NY and serves Scaynes Hill and the surrounding area.

The telephone code for this exchange is 01444-831.

The former dialling code for this exchange was 044 486.

ID: SDSCYNS. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.

Warninglid ATE

Warninglid ATE

Warninglid telephone exchange is located in Cuckfield Lane, Warninglid, Haywards Heath RH17 5UB and serves Warninglid and the surrounding villages.

The telephone code for this exchange is 01444-46.

The former dialling code for this exchange was 044 485.

ID: SDWRNNG. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.

Wivelsfield Green ATE

Wivelsfield Green ATE

Wivelsfield Green Telephone Exchange is located in South Road, Wivelsfield Green, Haywards Heath RH17 7QN and serves Wivelsfield Green and the surrounding area.

The telephone code for this exchange is 01444-47.

The former dialling code for this exchange was 044 84.

ID: SDWVLSF. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.

Acknowledgment:
The photographs on this page have been generously provided by Simon Cowper-Smith.
I am grateful to him for allowing me to reproduce the information on this site.
If you would like to send us a picture of your local telephone exchange, via the Feedback page, we would be pleased to include it