The seven BT Telephone Exchanges (and four former) in the Ledbury (01531) telephone area
Bosbury ATE
Bosbury telephone exchange is on the B4214, just north of the B4220, in Bosbury, Ledbury HR8 1HB.
A UAX12 came into service here around 1939.
Its telephone code is 01531-64.
Its former dialling code was 053 186.
ID: WNBOS. Photo courtesy of Ian Richardson.
Bromesberrow ATE
Bromesberrow telephone exchange is just north of a house called Broad Haven, Bromesberrow, Ledbury HR8 1SD.
A UAX12 came into service here around 1944 to replace a manual exchange.
Its telephone code is 01531-65.
Its former dialling code was 053 181.
ID: WNBRB. Photo courtesy of Ian Richardson.
Dymock ATE
Dymock telephone exchange is Leominster Road, Dymock GL18 2AN.
It came into service as a UAX13 in 1938 and was converted to digital working in May 1992 with lines becoming Dymock 890*** numbers. The changeover was inaugurated by Phyllis Fawke, who had been postmistress when the UAX replaced a manual exchange in Dymock post office, now North House.
Its telephone code is 01531-89.
Its former dialling code was 053 185.
ID: SSDYK. Photo courtesy of Ian Richardson.
Ledbury ATE
Ledbury telephone exchange is situated in Masefield Close, Lawnside Road, Ledbury HR8 2AD.
It came into service in 1967 to replace a manual exchange in the town’s post office.
Its telephone code includes 01531-63.
Its former dialling code was 0531.
ID: WNLED. Photo courtesy of Ian Richardson.
Ledbury former Manual Exchange
Ledbury’s former manual telephone exchange was on the first floor of the town’s then post office in The Homend, Ledbury HR8 1BN.
The first exchange here came into came into service in 1906 or 1907, opened by the Post Office. Plans were put forward in 1937 to build an automatic exchange in Bridge Street but they came to nothing. It finally closed in 1967.
ID: WNLED. Picture (2013): Courtesy of Jaggery.
Much Marcle ATE
Much Marcle telephone exchange is located just off the A449 in Much Marcle, Ledbury HR8 2LX.
It came into service as a UAX12 in the mid-1940s to replace a manual exchange opened in the post office on 24 September 1923 when the vicar, the Rev J M Duncan, placed the first call.
Its telephone code is 01531-66.
Its former dialling code was 053 184.
ID: WNMM. Photo courtesy of Ian Richardson.
Much Marcle former ATE
The original Much Marcle telephone exchange is just off the A449 in Much Marcle, Ledbury HR8 2LX.
It came into service as a UAX12 in the mid-1940s to replace a manual exchange opened in the post office on 24 September 1923 when the vicar, the Rev J M Duncan, placed the first call.
Its telephone code is 01531-66.
Its former dialling code was 053 184.
ID: WNMM. Photo courtesy of Ian Richardson.
Newent ATE
Newent telephone exchange is in Holts Road, Newent GL18 1BT.
It came into service around 1973 to replace an earlier exchange in Bury Bar Lane.
The telephone code of this exchange is 01531-82.
Its former dialling code was 0531.
ID: SSNWT. Photo courtesy of Ian Richardson.
Newent former ATE
The former Newent telephone exchange is in Bury Bar Lane, Newent GL18 1PT.
It came into service as a UAX13 around 1947 to replace a manual exchange. The building is now a private dwelling called Cherry Tree Cottage.
Its dialling code was 053 182.
ID: SSNWT. Photo courtesy of Ian Richardson.
Stretton Grandison former ATE
The former Stretton Grandison telephone exchange is close to St Lawrence Church, Stretton Grandison, Ledbury HR8 2TW.
It came into service in the early 1950s to replace a manual exchange opened in February 1925. On closure, lines were taken over by neighbouring exchanges. In 2019 planning permission to turn it into a house was refused.
Its dialling code was 053 187.
Picture (2009): Courtesy of Bob Embleton.
Trumpet ATE
Trumpet telephone exchange is on the A4172, just south of Trumpet Crossroads, Ledbury HR8 2RA.
The first auto exchange here came into service as an RAX5 to replace a manual exchange which opened around 1908.
Its telephone code is 01531-67.
Its former dialling code was 053 183.
ID: WNTRU. Photo courtesy of Ian Richardson.
Other former Ledbury Exchanges
- Fromes Hill Former ExchangeThe former Fromes Hill exchange was a UAX 12 which stood on the A4103 at Fromes Hill, Ledbury HR8 1HW. A house called Springfields now occupies the site. Its dialling code was 053 188.