The twenty-five BT Telephone Exchanges (and twelve former) in the Nottingham (0115) telephone area

The STD code for Nottingham was previously 0602, on 16 April 1995 this changed to 0115 with

a 9 prefixed to the subscriber’s number. For example: 0602 202090 changed to 0115 920 2090 

Arkwright ATE

Arkwright ATE
Arkwright Telephone Exchange is located in Fraser Road, Nottingham NG2 2JZ and serves The Meadows and some parts of West Bridgford and surrounding area. As the growth of the area demanded more lines for subscribers, a new exchange was cut in called Trentside which served all premises south of the river.
Opening in 1953 Arkwright was originally a Strowger exchange with 0602-86xxxx numbers, it is now a System X exchange.
The telephone codes for this exchange include 0115-9435, 0115-9438, 0115-9643, 0115-9645, 0115-9682, 0115-9688, 0115-9850, 0115-9851, 0115-9852 and 0115-986.
ID: EMARKWR. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Arnold ATE

Arnold ATE
Arnold Telephone Exchange is located in Nottingham Road, Arnold NG5 6JZ and serves Arnold, Daybrook, Woodthorpe and the surrounding area.
Arnold was originally a TXE4 exchange with the codes 0602-20 and 0602-26.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-920, 0115-926, 0115-9662, 0115-9670, 0115-9671, 0115-9672, 0115-673, 0115-9674, 0115-9675, 0115-9676 and 0115-9679.
ID: EMARNOL. Photo courtesy of Ashley Brown.

Basford ATE

Basford ATE
Basford Telephone Exchange is located in Addington Road, Nottingham NG7 5PA and serves Basford, Radford and the surrounding area.

Basford was originally a TXE4 exchange with the codes 0602-70 and 0602-78.

The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-9244, 0115-9249, 0115-9420, 0115-9421, 0115-9422, 0115-9423, 0115-9424, 0115-9427, 0115-970, 0115-978, 0115-9790, 0115-9791 and 0115-9792.

ID: EMBASFO. Photo courtesy of Tony Willgoose.

Beeston ATE

Beeston ATE
Beeston Telephone Exchange is located in Acacia Walk, Beeston NG9 2LW and serves Beeston and the surrounding area.
Beeston was originally a Strowger exchange with the codes 0602-22 and 0602-25.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-922, 0115-925, 0115-9430, 0115-9431, 0115-9432, 0115-9433, 0115-9434, 0115-9436, 0115-9513, 0115-9514, 0115-9515, 0115-9516, , 0115-9518, 0115-9571, 0115-9572, 0115-9573, 0115-9574, 0115-9575, 0115-9677, 0115-9678, 0115-9683, 0115-9686 and 0115-9687.
The numbers beginning with 0115-94 and 0115-95 are digital overlay numbers.
ID: EMBEEST. Photo courtesy of David Edge.

Bulwell ATE

Bulwell ATE
Bulwell Telephone Exchange is located in Main Street, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 8QD and serves Bulwell and the surrounding area.
Bulwell was originally a Strowger exchange with the code 0602-75, with a TXE4 added later with the codes 0602-27 and 0602-76.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-927, 0115-975, 0115-976, 0115-9770, 0115-9771, 0115-9794, 0115-9795, 0115-9796, 0115-9797 and 0115-9798.
ID: EMBULWE. Photo courtesy of Ashley Brown.

Burton Joyce ATE

Burton Joyce ATE
Burton Joyce Telephone Exchange is located in Main Street, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5DZ and serves Burton Joyce and the surrounding area.
Burton Joyce was originally a UAX14 exchange with the codes 060 231. On conversion to System X, the number range became 0602-31xxxx, there was just enough space in the building to insert the new equipment once the mess room and toilet were removed.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-9311, 0115-9312 and 0115-9313.
ID: EMBURTJ. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Carlton former ATE

Carlton former ATE
The former Carlton telephone exchange is located in Marhill Road, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 3AY and served Carlton, Gedling and the surrounding area. It has since been converted into apartments.
The former Carlton exchange was originally a Strowger, then a Crossbar exchange, with Carlton numbers 0602-24xxxx and Gedling numbers 0602-61xxxx and 0602-87xxxx. It closed in the early 1970’s having been replaced by the new Gedling exchange.
Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Chalfont ATE

Chalfont ATE
Chalfont Telephone Exchange is located in Robin’s Wood Road, Nottingham NG8 3LE and serves Aspley, Beechdale, Bilborough and parts of Broxtowe.
The exchange opened at this location in the 1960’s as a Strowger with the code 0602-29 and was converted to System X around 1986.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-929, 0115-9425, 0115-9426 and 0115-9428.
ID: EMCHALF. Photo courtesy of Ashley Brown.

Cotgrave ATE

Cotgrave ATE
Cotgrave Telephone Exchange is located in Bingham Road, Cotgrave, Nottingham NG12 3JS and serves Cotgrave and the surrounding area.
Cotgrave was originally a TXE2 exchange, with the code 0602-89.
The telephone code for this exchange is 0115-989.
ID: EMCOTGR Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Edwalton ATE

Edwalton ATE
Edwalton Telephone Exchange is located in Melton Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 6JP and serves Edwalton, parts of West Bridgford and surrounding area. Edwalton was originally a Strowger exchange with 0602-23xxxx numbers, it is now a System X exchange.

Edwalton used to have a larger serving area, but as the growth of the number of lines required the area was reduced to cut in Trentside exchange in the early 1970s.

The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-923 and 0115-9452.
ID: EMEDWAL. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Cotgrave former ATE

Cotgrave former ATE site

Cotgrave former ATE

We understand that the former Cotgrave Telephone Exchange once stood adjacent to the garage in Main Street, Cotgrave, Nottingham NG12 3HQ, as shown on this earlier map, courtesy of National Library of Scotland. It was equipped with a UAX13.
This exchange served Cotgrave and the surrounding area.
It is our belief that the original exchange building was demolished and replaced by a new building which is now home to a Hospice Shop.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 0602-89.
ID: EMCOTGR Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Gedling ATE

Gedling ATE
Gedling Telephone Exchange is located in Cavendish Drive, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 3DX and serves Carlton, Gedling and the surrounding area.
Gedling opened in the early 1970’s as a replacement for the former Carlton exchange and was originally a Crossbar exchange with Carlton numbers 0602-24xxxx and Gedling numbers 0602-61xxxx and 0602-87xxxx.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-9400, 0115-9401, 0115-9402, 0115-9403, 0115-9404, 0115-9407, 0115-961, 0115-9658 and 0115-987.
ID: EMGDDLI. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Gotham ATE

Gotham ATE
Gotham Telephone Exchange is located in Nottingham Road, Gotham, Nottingham NG11 0HE and serves Gotham and the surrounding area.
Gotham was originally a TXE2 exchange with the code 0602-83.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-9830 and 0115-9831.
ID: EMGTTHA. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Gotham former ATE

Gotham former ATE
The former Gotham Telephone Exchange is located in Nottingham Road, Gotham, Nottingham NG11 0HE and served Gotham and the surrounding area.
Gotham was originally a UAX13, then a TXE2 exchange, with the code 0602-83.
ID: EMGTTHA. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Hucknall ATE

Hucknell ATE
Hucknall Telephone Exchange is located in Portland Road, Hucknall, Nottingham NG15 7SA and serves Hucknall and the surrounding area.
Hucknall was originally a Crossbar exchange which was converted to System X in two stages due to space constraints, and was the second to last Crossbar exchange in the country, Droitwich lasted one day longer.
The previous codes were 0602-63 and 0602-64.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-963, 0115-9640, 0115-9641, 0115-9642, 0115-9680, 0115-9681 and 0115-9834.
ID: EMHUCKN. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Ilkeston ATE

Ilkeston ATE
Ilkeston Telephone Exchange is located in Moss Road, Ilkeston DE7 5GP and serves Ilkeston and the surrounding area.
Ilkeston was originally a Strowger, then a Crossbar exchange, with the codes 0602-30 and 0602-32.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-930, 0115-932, 0115-944 and 0115-9512.
ID: EMILKES. Photo courtesy of Alan Murray-Rust.

Kimberley ATE

Kimberley ATE
Kimberley Telephone Exchange is located in High Street, Kimberley, Nottingham NG16 2PD and serves Kimberley and the surrounding area.
Kimberley was originally a STC TXE2 Type 3 exchange, with the code 0602-38 and later converted to System X.
The telephone code for this exchange is 0115-938, 0115-9458 and 0115-9459.
ID: EMKIMBE. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Kimberley former ATE

Kimberley former ATE
The former Kimberley Telephone Exchange is located in Newdigate Street, Kimberley, Nottingham NG16 2NJ and served Kimberley and the surrounding area. The building has since been converted into a health centre.
Kimberley was originally a UAX14, then TXE2 exchange, when this exchange closed all four-digit numbers were changed to six-digit numbers 0602-38xxxx.
ID: EMKIMBE. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Long Eaton ATE

Long Eaton ATE
Long Eaton Telephone Exchange is located in Midland Street, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1NY and serves Long Eaton, Toton and the surrounding area.
Long Eaton was originally a Strowger, then a TXE4 exchange, with the codes 0602-72 and 0602-73 for 6-figure numbers and 060 76 for 4 and 5 figure numbers.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-946, 0115-972 and 0115-973.
ID: EMLONGE. Photo courtesy of David Edge.

Lowdham ATE

Lowdham ATE

Lowdham Telephone Exchange is located in Main Street, Lowdham NG14 7AG and serves Caythorpe, Gonalston, Lowdham and the surrounding area.

Lowdham was originally a UAX14 exchange with the code 060 745, located in the front building.  The new building (just visible at the rear) was built to house an STC TXE2 mark 3.  On digitalisation an AXE10 exchange replaced the TXE2 and the buildings were split into two with the hope of selling off the former exchange.

The telephone codes for this exchange are now 0115-9663 and 0115-9664

ID: EMLOWDH. Photo courtesy of Alan Murray-Rust.

Nottingham Archer former ATE

Nottingham Archer former ATE

The former Nottingham Archer Telephone Exchange is located in Brook Street, Nottingham NG1 1EA.

This exchange opened in 1956 and had a Strowger exchange for the eastern side of the city covering Sneinton, Carlton road, St Annes areas.  It also was the main exchange for private circuits and had operations for the remainder of the Nottingham charge group area as well as Newark and Whatton groups.  The Strowger was replaced with a TXE4 exchange which closed in stages in the mid-1990, with all the subscribers transferred to the Longbow exchange.  The building had a special rack of Strowger for the radio station phone in numbers which remained until the TXE4 closed.  There is still an operational MDF in this building with 5 x 4800 pair tie cables back to the Longbow MDF.  The building has since been converted to residential flats.

Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Nottingham Castle former ATE

Nottingham Castle former ATE
The former Nottingham Castle Telephone Exchange is located in George Street, Nottingham NG1 3AP and served Nottingham City Centre. The original building was built around 1898 and later extended in 1938.

It was equipped with Strowger to serve the city centre, it also had the operators serving the city centre and some of the Nottingham charge group exchanges.  It also housed the telex exchange. The Strowger closed in the late seventies/early eighties and all the subs where transferred to Crusader exchange.  The building still had a working MDF in it up to the late nineties/ early 2000s.  The building has since been converted into residential flats.

Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.

Nottingham Crusader former ATE

Nottingham Crusader ATE
The former Nottingham Crusader Telephone Exchange is located in Thurland Street, Nottingham NG1 3DR and served Nottingham City Centre.

Crusader exchange was a new TXE4 exchange replacing the Strowger exchange at Nottingham Castle exchange. It opened in the late 1970s and it closed in two stages in the mid 1990s. It used to have tie circuits to Castle exchange MDF (Main Distribution Frame), as not all of the circuits were transferred. There was also a cable tunnel connecting the two exchanges.

It also housed the directory enquires service for the Nottingham, Whatton Newark and latterly Mansfield charge groups.
When it closed subscribers were transferred to the new Nottingham Longbow exchange. On closure, the MDF was left in situ and is connected to Longbow exchange with four 4800 pair tie cables.

The building was converted into retail units and flats around 2001.
Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.

Nottingham Longbow ATE

Nottingham Longbow ATE
Nottingham Longbow Telephone Exchange is located in Bath Street, Nottingham NG1 1BZ and serves Nottingham City Centre.

This twin tower building was built during the 1970s to house all the new transit type exchanges and eventually the digital processes for the Nottingham, Newark, Whatton and Mansfield charge groups. It also housed the operators until 2000. It has a large MDF which feeds out to the old Archer and Crusader exchanges.

The telephone codes for this exchange include 0115-9240, 0115-9241, 0115-9242, 0115-9243, 0115-934, 0115-941, 0115-9437, 0115-9453, 0115-9454, 0115-947, 0115-948, 0115-9492, 0115-9493, 0115-9494, 0115-9495, 0115-9498, 0115-950, 0115-9510, 0115-958, 0115-959, 0115-9793, 0115-9799, 0115-980, 0115-9859 and 0115-988.
ID: EMLONGB.

Oxton former ATE

Oxton former ATE
The former Oxton Telephone Exchange is located in Sandy Lane, Oxton, Nottingham NG14 and served Oxton and the surrounding area.
The exchange closed in 1969 and its subscribers were transferred to the newly opened Woodborough exchange. The building is now privately owned.
Oxton was originally a UAX12 exchange and the local access code was 342 from the Nottingham charge group.
Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Plumtree ATE

Plumtree ATE
Plumtree Telephone Exchange is located in Church Hill, Plumtree, Nottingham NG12 5ND and was built in 1957. It serves Keyworth, Normanton-on-the-Wolds, Plumtree, Tollerton and the surrounding area.
Plumtree was originally a Strowger exchange with the code 060 77.
The telephone code for this exchange is 0115-937.
ID: EMPLUMT. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Plumtree former Manual Exchange

Plumtree former Manual Exchange
The former Plumtree Manual Telephone Exchange was located within Orchard House, (formally Gayton House) Rose Grove, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5HE.
Around 1920 the house was used to set up a manual telephone exchange in the downstairs room to the left of the front door. This was in use until 1957 when the Plumtree automatic exchange came into use in the neighbouring village of Plumtree.
It served Keyworth, Normanton-on-the-Wolds, Plumtree, Tollerton and the surrounding area.

The house has an interesting history:

1901-Gayton House built on Rose Grove by John H Caine purchased from land owned by Elizabeth Cotton.

1952-House owned by the Tunbridges.

1965-House owned by the Harveys and the name of house changed to Orchard House. This was the original business address for Orchard toys established in the 70’s. The house also served as a nursery during this time.

1974-House owned by the Whitesides.

1979-House owned by the Kents until 2005 when the current owners purchased the house. Information and photo courtesy of Cath Chilvers.

Radcliffe On Trent ATE

Radcliffe-On-Trent ATE
Radcliffe On Trent Telephone Exchange is located in New Road, Radcliffe On Trent, Nottingham NG12 2AJ and serves Holme Pierrepont, Radcliffe On Trent, Stoke Bardolph and the surrounding area.
Radcliffe On Trent was originally a Strowger exchange with the code 060 73.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-9332, 0115-9333, 0115-9334, 0115-9335 and 0115-9336.
ID: EMRADCL. Photo courtesy of Terry Hall.

Ruddington ATE

Ruddington ATE
Ruddington Telephone Exchange is located in Elms Park, Ruddington, Nottingham NG11 6NQ and serves Clifton, Ruddington and the surrounding area.
Ruddington was originally a Strowger, then a Crossbar exchange, with the codes 0602-21 and 0602-84.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-9211, 0115-9212, 0115-9213, 0115-9214, 0115-9215, 0115-9216, 0115-9217, 0115-9405, 0115-9406, 0115-9496, 0115-9457 and 0115-984.
ID: EMRDDIN. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Sandiacre ATE

Sandiacre ATE
Sandiacre Telephone Exchange is located in Bessell Lane, Stapleford, Nottingham NG9 7BX and serves Bramcote, Sandiacre, Stapleford and the surrounding area. This exchange is housed in a K1 Mk4 building.
Sandiacre was originally a Crossbar exchange with the code 0602-39.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-9218, 0115-939, 0115-9490, 0115-9491, 0115-9496, 0115-9497 and 0115-9499.
ID: EMSANDI. Photo courtesy of David Edge.

Sandiacre former ATE

Sandiacre former ATE
The former Sandiacre Telephone Exchange is located in Derby Road, Stapleford, Nottingham NG9 7AS and served Bramcote, Sandiacre, Stapleford and the surrounding area. This building is now used by Virgin Media.
Sandiacre was originally a UAX14, then a Crossbar exchange, with the code 0602-39.
ID: EMSANDI. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Sherwood ATE

Sherwood ATE
Sherwood Telephone Exchange is located in Hucknall Road, Carrington, Nottingham NG5 1AB and serves Carrington, Mapperley Park, New Basford, Sherwood and the surrounding area.
Sherwood was originally a TXE4 exchange with the codes 0602-60 and 0602-62.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-9245, 0115-960, 0115-962, 0115-9691, 0115-9692, 0115-9693, 0115-9856, 0115-9857 and 0115-9858.
ID: EMSHRWO. Photo courtesy of Tony Willgoose.

Sherwood former ATE

Sherwood former ATE
The former Sherwood Telephone Exchange is located alongside the current exchange in Hucknall Road, Carrington, Nottingham NG5 1AB and served Carrington, Mapperley Park, New Basford, Sherwood and the surrounding area.
Sherwood was originally a TXE4 exchange with the codes 0602-60 and 0602-62.
The building is now home to the Nottinghamshire Army Cadets.
ID: EMSHRWO. Photo courtesy of Tony Willgoose.

Trentside ATE

Trentside ATE
Trentside Telephone Exchange is located in Bridgford Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 6AU and serves some parts of West Bridgford. This exchange is near to Arkwright and Edwalton and was built in the 1970’s in the centre of West Bridgford to provide additional capacity as the two older exchanges were reaching full capacity. A fair number of subscribers were then moved to Trentside.
Trentside was originally a Crossbar exchange with 0602-81xxxx and 0602-82 numbers, it is now a System X exchange.
The telephone codes for this exchange include 0115-9455, 0115-9694, 0115-9772, 0115-9773, 0115-9774, 0115-981 and 0115-982.
ID: EMTRENT. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Wollaton ATE

Wollaton ATE
Wollaton Telephone Exchange is located in Lambourne Drive, Nottingham NG8 1GR and serves Beechdale, Wollaton and the surrounding area.
Wollaton was originally a Strowger exchange with the code 0602-28.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-928, 0115-9854 and 0115-9855.
ID: EMWOLLA. Photo courtesy of Tony Willgoose.

Woodborough ATE

Woodborough ATE
Woodborough Telephone Exchange is located in Main Street, Calverton, Nottingham NG14 6FG and serves Calverton, Dorket Head, Epperstone, Lambley, Woodborough and the surrounding area.

This exchange opened in 1969 as a Plessey TXE2 type 2 exchange. This building is located in the neighbouring village of Calverton.  Upon opening this exchange took over the former Woodborough exchange and the former Oxton exchange. The GPO wanted to call this exchange Calverton, but the residents of Woodborough objected to being associated with the village of Calverton. Woodborough is quite an affluent village and Calverton was a poorer pit village.

Woodborough was originally a TXE2 exchange with the code 0602-65.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 0115-9652, 0115-9653, 0115-9654, 0115-9655, 0115-9656 and 0115-9657.
ID: EMWOODB. Photo courtesy of Neil White.

Woodborough former ATE

Woodborough former ATE 2005

The first Woodborough Telephone Exchange opened in 1912 with a manual switchboard located within Woodborough Post Office, Main Street, Woodborough, Nottingham NG14 6DD and served Calverton, Dorket Head, Woodborough and the surrounding area.

That exchange closed in 1950/51 and was replaced by Woodborough Automatic Exchange (shown above). It was a purpose built building built by a local builder, to a GPO design, in Lingwood Lane, Woodborough NG14 6DX. The exchange closed in 1971 and the building is now owned by Woodborough Community Association.
Shortly before the exchange closed a mobile exchange was sited on the vicarage lawn, as a temporary measure, before subscribers were transferred to the new exchange at Calverton.
Woodborough was originally a UAX13, then a TXE2 exchange, with the code 0602-65.
ID: EMWOODB. Photo and information kindly provided by John Hoyland. Please visit the excellent Woodborough Heritage website for more detailed information.

Other former Nottingham Exchanges

  • Whatton former ExchangeThe former Whatton exchange stood in Conery Lane, Whatton NG13 9FB. It came into service as a UAX13 on 3 June 1947 to replace a manual exchange opened in 1923 in the post office. It closed on 27 January 1971 and the site is now the drive of Berberis House.
Acknowledgment:
The photographs and information on this page have been generously provided
by Neil White, Simon Cowper-Smith, Ashley Brown and Alan Murray-Rust.
I am grateful to them and the other contributors for allowing me to reproduce the information on this site.
If you would like to send us a picture of your local telephone exchange, via the Feedback page, we would be pleased to include it
If you would like to send us a picture of your local telephone exchange, via the Feedback page, we would be pleased to include it