The five BT Telephone Exchanges (and six formers) in the Heathfield (01435) telephone area
Burwash ATE
Burwash former ATE
The former Burwash telephone exchange is opposite the village hall in the High Street, Burwash, Etchingham TN19 7HA.
It came into service around 1946 as a UAX13 to replace a manual exchange. It closed in 1974 and is currently an annex to the neighbouring Christ The King Church.
Its dialling code was 043 54.
ID: NDBUR. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Heathfield ATE
Heathfield former Manual Exchange
Heathfield’s manual exchange was housed in the former post office at 25 High Street, Heathfield TN21 0ZH.
Originally both the exchange and post office were named Heathfield Tower until the names were changed to Heathfield in March 1936. The switchboard closed around 1964 when it was replaced by the current exchange. The building is now a Royal Mail sorting office.
Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Horam Road ATE
It opened around 1964 to replace a manual exchange originally called Horeham Road. The parish council first asked for the name to be changed to Horam in 1934. It was finally changed to Horam Road in 1954.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01435-81.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 043 53.
Mayfield ATE
The current building was built in the 1980’s following a gas explosion at 07.50 on 27 November 1978 which levelled the original building and the UAX14 equipment. Apparently, an external gas leak passed through BT duct lines, the cable chamber seals had failed resulting in gas filling up the building over a weekend. This destroyed the exchange in its entirety!
Mayfield former ATE
The former Mayfield automatic exchange stood in Tunbridge Wells Road, Mayfield TN20 6PJ until 7.50 am on 27 November 1978.
That was the moment it was blown to bits by a gas explosion. Opened on 9 March 1954 as a UAX14, it had acquired 950 subscribers by the time it was completely destroyed in the blast. No-one was hurt, but it took three mobile exchanges and 230 Post Office staff seven days to reconnect all the lines. It was replaced by a TXE2 on the current site in 1980.
Its dialling code was 043 55.
You can read the full story HERE
Picture courtesy of BT Archives.
Mayfield former Manual Exchange
The former Mayfield manual exchange is in West Street, Mayfield TN20 6BA. The first exchange here came into service before the First World War. For the last 28 years of its life it was run by a Mr and Mrs H Sadler before closing on 9 March 1954. The building – now called The Corner House – was sold by auction later that year and is now a private home.
Photo courtesy of Simon Carey.
Rushlake Green ATE
Rushlake Green Telephone Exchange is located in Middle Lane, Rushlake Green, Heathfield TN21 9QY and serves Rushlake Green and the surrounding villages.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01435-83.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 043 56.
ID: NDRGR. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Rushlake Green former ATE
The former Rushlake Green exchange (hidden behind bushes on the left side of the photo) in Middle Lane, Rushlake Green TN21 9QX.
It came into service around 1936 as a UAX12 and closed in 1980 when it was replaced by the current exchange further up Middle Lane, lines becoming Rushlake Green 830*** numbers.
Its dialling code was 043 56.
Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
West Burwash former ATE
The former West Burwash exchange is in Vicarage Road, Burwash Common, TN19 7LH. It came into service as a UAX13 in the 1940s to replace a manual exchange and closed in October 1982, with most lines being transferred to Burwash exchange as Burwash 883*** numbers. It is currently the garage of a house called Belvedene.
Its dialling code was 043 57.
Photo courtesy of John Cranston.