The six BT Telephone Exchanges (and four former) in the Montrose (01674) telephone area
Bridge of Dun ATE
Bridge of Dun telephone exchange is on the A935 at Dun, Montrose DD10 9LQ and also serves an area including Kinnaird and Langley Park.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01674-81.
Its former dialling code was 067 481.
ID: ESBOD.
Bridge of Dun former ATE
Sadly, only the place where the former Bridge of Dun telephone exchange once stood remains. It was adjacent to the current exchange on the A935 at Dun, Montrose DD10 9LQ and also serves an area including Kinnaird and Langley Park.
It came into service around 1937 as a UAX 12, replacing a manual exchange which opened some time before 1920.
Its former dialling code was 067 481.
ID: ESBOD. Photo courtesy of Damon Wilkinson.
Farnell ATE
Farnell telephone exchange is just north of the A934 at Farnell, Brechin DD9 6UH and also covers an area including Renmuir and Rossie.
It came into service as an RAX 5 on 11 June 1930 when the inugural call was by Mr Arnot Fithie, a farmer, to the City Chambers in Dundee.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01674-82.
Its former dialling code was 067 482.
ID: ESFAR.
Hillside ATE
Hillside telephone exchange is located in Dubton Road, Hillside, Montrose DD10 9HB and also serves an area including Pathead, Logie and Kirkhill.
It came into service around 1947. It replaced a manual exchange opened, with eight subscribers, on 20 May 1925 when Mrs. Mitchell Thomson, of Inglismaldie, made the inaugural call to Provost Foreman of Montrose.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01674-83.
Its former dialling code was 067 483.
ID: ESHIL.
Hillside former manual TE
The former Hillside manual telephone exchange was located in Hillside Post Office, Lindsay Place, Hillside, Montrose DD10 9HQ and also served an area including Pathead, Logie and Kirkhill.
It came into service on 20 May 1925, with eight subscribers, when Mrs. Mitchell Thomson, of Inglismaldie, made the inaugural call to Provost Foreman of Montrose.
In 1947 it was listed as having a CBS2 switchboard.
Photo courtesy of Damon Wilkinson.
Montrose ATE
Montrose telephone exchange is located in Bridge Street, Montrose DD10 8AA and also serves an area including Ferryden and Usen.
It came into service at 8 am on 27 June 1973, seven years after the building was first put up. By the time it came into service, it was already too small and a 400-line mobile exchange had to be brought in to cope with demand.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01674-67.
Its former dialling code was 0674.
ID: ESMON. Photo courtesy of Richard Webb
Montrose former ATE
The former Montrose manual telephone exchange was located in the old post office in Bridge Street, Montrose DD10 8AA. It came into service on Sunday 17 April 1932, was extended in February 1941 and closed on 27 June 1973.
The first exchange in Montrose was opened by the National Telephone Company in September 1890, possibly at the home of photographer Thomas Lyall in West End Park before moving to Ramsay Street in September 1897. It closed in 1932.
ID: ESMON. Photo courtesy of J Thomas.
Northwaterbridge ATE
Northwaterbridge telephone exchange is on the road to Montrose, just south of North Water Bridge, Laurencekirk AB30 1QN and also serves an area including Marykirk and part of Strathcaro.
It came into service in October 1951. It replaced a manual exchange opened on 11 December 1922 when farmer David Milne made the inaugural call to Provost Foreman of Montrose. The name was changed from North Water Bridge to Northwaterbridge in 1950.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01674-84.
Its former dialling code was 067 484.
ID: ESNRW.
Northwaterbridge former TE
The former Northwaterbridge manual telephone exchange was located in the Post Office, North Water Bridge AB30 1QNNorth Water Bridge, Laurencekirk AB30 1QN and also served an area including Marykirk and part of Strathcaro.
The name was changed from North Water Bridge to Northwaterbridge in 1950.
In 1947 it was listed as having a CBS2 manual switchboard.
ID: ESNRW. Photo courtesy of Damon Wilkinson.
St Cyrus ATE
St Cyrus telephone exchange is located in Main Road, St Cyrus, Montrose DD10 0BA and also serves an area including Ecclesgreig.
It came into service as an RAX5 on 19 March 1934. It replaced a manual exchange run by postmistress Miss Cathro, opened on 24 Oct 1922 when DS Porteous of Lauriston Castle made the inaugural call to the Provost of Montrose.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01674-85.
Its former dialling code was 067 485.
ID: ESSTC. Photo courtesy of Richard Webb.