The ten BT Telephone Exchanges (and five former) in the Hereford (01432) telephone area
Hereford has a special place in the history of telephones. Britain’s third automatic exchange opened here on 1 August 1914, and it was the only one in the country ever to use the Lorimer switching system. The exchange was equipped for 500 lines, and telephones had ‘indicator plates’ with levers instead of dials. The system was rejected by the Post Office for use elsewhere but the Hereford installation remained in service for 11 years. Pictures courtesy of BT Archives.
Bartestree Cross ATE
Bartestree Cross telephone exchange is on the A438 in Bartestree, Hereford HR1 4BA and also covers an area including Lugwardine and Withington.
It came into service to replace the former exchange in Longworth Lane.
Its telephone codes include 01432-85
Its former dialling code was 0432.
ID: WNBC. Photo required.
Bartestree Cross former ATE
The former Bartestree Cross telephone exchange is in Longworth Lane, Bartestree, Hereford HR1 4GA.
It came into service to replace the Bartestree manual exchange around 1960.
It is now part of the Gateway Nursery complex.
Its former dialling code was 043 275.
Photo required.
Burghill ATE
Burghill telephone exchange is behind Simpson Hall in Burghill, Hereford HR4 7RW and also covers an area including Credenhill and Tillington. It came into service to replace the previous exchange around 1977 when Burghill lines became Hereford 760*** numbers.
Its telephone codes include 01432-76.
Its former dialling code was 0432.
ID: WNBUR. Photo (2020) courtesy of Fabian Musto.
Burghill former ATE
The former Burghill telephone exchange is opposite The Manor in Burghill, Hereford HR4 7RN.
It came into service to replace the manual Burghill exchange and closed around 1977. It is now a private house called The Old Exchange.
Its dialling code was 043 276.
Photo (2020) courtesy of Fabian Musto.
Burley Gate ATE
Burley Gate telephone exchange (its roof is just visible to the right of the bus shelter) stands south of the A465 at Burley Gate, Hereford HR1 3QR and also covers an area including Moreton Jeffries and Much Cowarne. The building to the front of the site was a UAX12 which replaced the manual Burley Gate exchange.
Its telephone codes include 01432-82.
Its former dialling code was 043 278.
ID: WNBGT.
Photo (2019) courtesy of Richard Webb.
Canon Pyon ATE
Canon Pyon telephone exchange is down a lane off the A4110 in Canon Pyon, Hereford HR4 8NX and also covers an area including Wellington, King’s Pyon and Bush Bank.  The first ATE here opened as a UAX12 to replace Canon Pyon manual exchange.
Its telephone codes include 01432-83.
Its former dialling code was 043 271.
ID: WNCP. Photo required.
Carey ATE
Carey telephone exchange is east of Hoarwithy Bridge, Kings Caple, Hereford HR1 4TT and also covers an area including Hoarworthy and Ballingham.
It came into service in the 1950s to replace a CBS2 manual exchange.
Its telephone codes include 01432-84.
Its former dialling code was 043 270.
ID: WNCRY. Photo (2015) courtesy of Jaggery.
Fownhope ATE
Fownhope telephone exchange stands on the B4224 in Fownhope, Hereford HR1 4PE and also covers the immediately surrounding area.
The building in the foreground opened as an RAX5 in the early 1930s.
Its telephone codes include 01432-860.
Its former dialling code was 043 277.
ID: WNFOW. Photo (2016) courtesy of Jaggery.
Hereford ATE
Hereford telephone exchange is in Breinton Road, Hereford HR1 0JT and covers the city of Hereford and the immediately surrounding area.
Its telephone codes include 01432-26, 01432-27 and 01432-3.
Its former dialling code was 0432.
ID: WNHR. Photo (2017) courtesy of Stephen Richards.
Hereford former ATE 2
The former Hereford telephone exchange, seen here to the bottom left of the photo, is off Church Street, Hereford HR1 2LR.
It came into service to replace the Lorimer system exchange in the 1920s.
Its dialling code was 0432.
Photo (2018) courtesy of Fabian Musto.
Hereford former ATE 1
Hereford’s first ATE was housed to the rear of the former post office at 20 Broad Street, Hereford (now HR4 9AR).
Equipped by the Canadian Machine Telephone Company, it came into service on 1 August 1914. It is believed to have ceased operation around 1925.
The building is now a restaurant.
Photo courtesy of BazzaDaRambler.
Hereford former Manual Exchange
Hereford’s manual telephone exchange (seen here on the right) was at 107 East Street, Hereford (now HR1 2LW). The first Hereford exchange was opened in the early 1890s by the National Telephone Company.
Photo courtesy of BT Archives.
Holme Lacy ATE
Holme Lacy telephone exchange is in Bridge Road, Holme Lacy, Hereford HR2 6LW and also covers an area including Mordiford and Hampton Bishop.
It cam into service around the 1940s to replace the manual Holme Lacy exchange.
Its telephone codes include 01432-87.
Its former dialling code was 043 273.
ID: WNHL. Photo required.
Sutton St Nicholas ATE
Sutton St Nicholas telephone exchange is in Ridgeway Road, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford HR1 3BA and also covers an area including Marden.
It came into service as a UAX12 to replace a manual exchange.
Its telephone codes include 01432-88.
Its former dialling code was 043 272.
ID: WNSSN. Photo required.
Tarrington ATE
Tarrington telephone exchange stands on the A438 at Tarrington, Hereford HR1 4HZ and also serves the surrounding area.
The smaller building housed a UAX12, opened to replace the manual Tarrington exchange.
Its telephone codes include 01432-89.
Its former dialling code was 043 279.
ID: WNTRR. Photo courtesy of The K6 Project.