The five BT Telephone Exchanges in the Lauder (01578) telephone area
Lauder telephone exchange is notable as it contained one of the last working Strowger (electro-mechanical) exchanges to be taken out of service in Scotland in 1983.
Local schoolchildren helped engineers switch-over local subscribers to a new digital exchange in just 4 seconds. The picture shows the original meters at the exchange recording the number of units used on each line.
Photo & information courtesy of Raymond Okonski.
Fountainhall ATE
Fountainhall telephone exchange is situated in Old Stage Road, Fountainhall, Galashiels TD1 2SY and serves Fountainhall and the surrounding area.
It came into service as an RAX5 around 1933 to replace a manual exchange.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01578-760.
Its former dialling code was 057 86.
ID: ESFOL
Lauder ATE
Lauder telephone exchange is located in Crofts Road, Lauder TD2 6QJ and also serves the surrounding area including Thurlestane and Pyatshaw.
The first auto exchange here came into service around 1936 to replace a manual board.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01578-72.
Its former dialling code was 057 82.
ID: ESLAU. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Oxton ATE
Oxton telephone exchange is situated in The Loan, Oxton, Lauder TD2 6PL and serves Addinston, Carfraemill, Oxton and the surrounding area.
It came into service on 8 June 1937 to replace a manual exchange opened in 1929.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01578-750.
Its former dialling code was 057 85.
ID: ESOXT. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Stow ATE
Stow telephone exchange is located in Galashiels Road, Stow, Galashiels TD1 2RE and also serves the surrounding area including Galabank and Torsonce.
The first exchange here was a manual board opened by the National Telephone Company in The Hotel on 25 June 1908. An RAX 5 came into service in March 1932.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01578-730.
Its former dialling code was 057 83.
ID: ESSTW.
Westruther ATE
Westruther telephone exchange is situated beside the parish church in Westruther, Gordon, TD3 6NE and also serves the surrounding area including Houndslow and Howlet’s Ha’.
It came into service as an RAX5, parented on Galashiels, on 12 February 1935.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01578-740.
Its former dialling code was 057 84.
ID: ESWES. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.