The ten BT Telephone Exchanges (and five former) in the Luton (01582) telephone area
Dunstable ATE
Dunstable Telephone Exchange is located in Manchester Place, Dunstable LU6 1HT and serves Dunstable and the surrounding area.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 01582-47, 01582-60, 01582-66, 01582-67 and 01582-69.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 2.
ID: SMDB.
Harpenden ATE
Harpenden Telephone Exchange is located in Bowers Way, Harpenden AL5 4EP and serves Harpenden and the surrounding area.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 01582-46, 01582-71 and 01582-76.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 27.
ID: SMHR. Photo courtesy of Geographer.
Hexton ATE
Hexton Telephone Exchange is located in Hexton Road, Barton-le-Clay, Bedford MK45 4JY and serves Barton-le-Clay, Hexton and the surrounding villages.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01582-88.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 288.
ID: SMHXT. Photo courtesy of Craig Gonsalves.
Hexton former ATE
The former Hexton Telephone Exchange is located in Hexton Road, Barton-le-Clay, Bedford MK45 4JY and served Barton-le-Clay, Hexton and the surrounding villages.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01582-88.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 288.
ID: SMHXT. Photo courtesy of Craig Gonsalves.
Houghton Regis ATE
Houghton Regis Telephone Exchange is located in Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Dunstable LU5 5QN and serves Houghton Hamlets, Houghton Regis, Parkside and Tithe Farm.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 01582-85 and 01582-86.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 2.
ID: SMHUR. Awaiting photo.
Icknield former ATE
The former Icknield exchange is up a lane between 186 and 188 Barton Road, Bramingham, Luton LU3 2BE.
It came into service around 1936 as an RAX 6. It closed on 23 March 1970 when most lines were transferred to Leagrave ATE as Luton numbers.
It is now privately owned.
Its dialling code was 058 286.
Photo courtesy of Rightmove.
Luton ATE
Luton Telephone Exchange is located in Dunstable Place, Luton LU1 2QD and serves Luton and the surrounding area.
The telephone codes for this exchange include 01582-41, 01582-43, 01582-45, 01582-48 and 01582-72.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 2.
ID: SMLT. Photo courtesy of Craig Gonsalves.
Leagrave ATE
Leagrave Telephone Exchange is located in Waller Avenue, Maidenhall, Luton LU4 9RT and serves Leagrave, Maidenhall and the surrounding area.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 01582-49, 01582-50, 01582-56, 01582-57, 01582-58 and 01582-59.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 2.
ID: SMLEA. Awaiting photo.
This exchange is scheduled to cease operation in December 2030 and close by June 2031.
Markyate ATE
Markyate Telephone Exchange is located in Buckwood Road, Markyate, St Albans AL3 8JF and serves Flamstead, Gaddesden Row and Markyate.
The previous exchange was equipped with a UAX13 and was situated in Buckwood Road, approximately 50 yards from the current exchange, it has since been demolished.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01582-84.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 284.
ID: SMMY. Photo courtesy of David Hillas.
Redbourn ATE
Redbourn Telephone Exchange is located in Waterend Lane, Redbourn, St Albans AL3 7JZ and serves Redbourn and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01582-79.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 285.
ID: SMRDB. Photo courtesy of David Hillas.
Redbourn former ATE
The former Redbourn Telephone Exchange was located in Crown Street, Redbourn, St Albans AL3 7JX and served Redbourn and the surrounding area.
After it closed the building was used as a Royal Mail sorting office. It has since been demolished and replaced by a house named The Old Sorting Office.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 285.
ID: SMRDB. Image (taken in 2010) courtesy of Google Maps.
Wheathampstead ATE
Wheathampstead Telephone Exchange is located in East Lane, Wheathampstead, St Albans AL4 8BH and serves Blackmore End, Coleman Green and Wheathampstead.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01582-83.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 283.
ID: SMWTD. Photo courtesy of David Hillas.
Wheathampstead former ATE
The former Wheathampstead exchange is situated in Marford Road, Wheathampstead AL4 8AY.
It came into service in 1938 as a UAX 7, replacing a manual exchange. The change caused a fuss in the letters column of The Times, some subscribers claiming the exchange was useless. You can read about the controversy HERE.
The first floor was added after closure in the 1970s. It was used as offices until 2018 and is now rental flats (inset).
Its dialling code was 058 283.
ID: SMWTD. Photos courtesy of BT Archives and Old Exchange House.
Whipsnade (Kensworth) ATE
Whipsnade Telephone Exchange is located in Common Road, Kensworth, Dunstable LU6 2PJ and serves Kensworth, Studham and Whipsnade.
The previous exchange was initially equipped with a UAX5, later replaced by a UAX13.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01582-87.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 287.
ID: SMWZ. Photo courtesy of David Hillas.
Whipsnade former ATE
The former Whipsnade Telephone Exchange is located in Common Road, Kensworth, Dunstable LU6 2PN and served Kensworth, Studham and Whipsnade.
It was initially equipped with a UAX5, later replaced by a UAX13.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 058 287.
ID: SMWZ. Photo courtesy of Henry David Allum.