The eleven BT Telephone Exchanges (and three formers) in the Kingsbridge (01548) telephone area
Bigbury-on-Sea ATE
Chivelstone ATE
East Allington ATE
Frogmore ATE
Galmpton former ATE
The former Galmpton telephone exchange stood on the road to Hope Cove in Galmpton, Kingsbridge TQ7Â 3HA.
It came into service (possibly as a UAX13) in the mid-1930s. It closed on 5 October 1990 when its lines were taken over by Sutton Cross. It has since been replaced by a newly built holiday home called The Exchange.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 054 854.
Gara Bridge ATE
Kingsbridge ATE
ID: WWKNGB. Awaiting photo.
Loddiswell ATE
ID: WWLODD.
Modbury ATE
Modbury telephone exchange is located in Galpin Street, Modbury, Ivybridge PL21 0QB and serves Modbury and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01548-83.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 054 883.
ID: WWMODY. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Salcombe ATE
Salcombe telephone exchange is located in Herbert Road, Salcombe TQ8 8HP and serves Malborough, Salcombe and surrounding area. The exchange also serves East Portlemouth which is located the opposite side of the estuary, via an underground cable, involving a long road trip for visiting engineers.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01548-84.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 054 884.
ID: WWSALC. Photo courtesy of John Howard.
Sutton Cross ATE
Sutton Cross telephone exchange is located in South Milton, Kingsbridge TQ7 3JG and serves Galmpton, South Milton and Thurlestone.
This exchange opened on 26 November 1980 and was originally equipped with a TXE2 and replaced two exchanges in Thurlestone and Galmpton.
Neither village wanted their exchange name to be the known as the other village or South Milton so a new name of Sutton Cross was invented.
On opening Galmpton subscribers had their numbers changed from Galmpton xxx (3-figures) to Galmpton 561xxx (6-figures).
The telephone code for this exchange is 01548-56.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 054 856.
ID: WWSUTT. Photo courtesy of John Howard.
Thurslestone former ATE
The former Thurlestone telephone exchange once stood in Parkfield, Thurlestone, Kingsbridge TQ7 3NW.
It came into service as a UAX13 in the mid-1940s. It closed around 1980 when its lines were taken over by Sutton Cross. It has since been demolished and the site redeveloped.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 054 857.
Torcross ATE
Torcross Telephone Exchange is located just off the A379 in Stokenham, Kingsbridge TQ7 2SW and serves Stokenham, Torcross, Widdecombe and the surrounding villages.
This exchange opened around 1979, originally with a TXE2, which was replaced on 21 December 1993 with an AXE10 digital system.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01548-58.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 054 858.
ID: WWTORX. Photo courtesy of John Howard.
Torcross former ATE
The former Torcross telephone exchange stands opposite the church in Stokenham, Kingsbridge TQ7 2SZ.
It came into service as a UAX13 around 1937, replacing a manual exchange in Torcross post office which had been seriously damaged in a fire on 8 February 1936. It closed around 1979 when its lines were taken over by the current exchange. It is now used as church office and meeting room.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 054 858.
ID: WWTORX. Picture (2019): Courtesy of John C.