The twelve BTÂ Telephone Exchanges (and thirteen former) in the Sevenoaks (01732) telephone area
Borough Green ATE
Borough Green former ATE
Coldrum Stones former relief ATE
Coldrum Stones was a relief unit for Fairseat exchange, named after a natural feature on the nearby Coldrum Long Barrow.
It came into use around February 1968 and ceased operation on 21 April 1971 when the new Fairseat exchange was opened.
Its dialling code – if published – may have been 0732 821.
Illustration from the 1970 Tunbridge Wells directory.
Crockham Hill former ATE
Dunton Green former ATE
Edenbridge ATE
Fairseat ATE
Fairseat former ATE
The first automatic Fairseat exchange was situated in Vigo Road, Fairseat, Sevenoaks TN15 7LR.
It came into use in 1959 and ceased operation on 21 April 1971 when the curent  Fairseat exchange was opened. The Coldrum Stones exchange operated as a relief unit here until the opening of the current exchange. In 2024 it is awaiting redevelopment.
Its dialling code was 073 282.
Photo courtesy of OntheMarket.
Fairseat former Manual Exchange
The former Fairseat manual exchange was in what is now the Old Post House, Fairseat, Sevenoaks TN15 7LU.
The first exchange was opened in Fairseat Cottage on 9 December 1925. It moved with the post office to its later location (seen here) in 1930. It closed in 1959. It was operated throughout by Miss Stella Henden. You can read more about Miss Henden and the exchange HERE.
Photo courtesy of Stansted and Fairseat Blogspot.
Four Elms ATE
ID: NDFEL. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Hadlow ATE
ID: NDHAD. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Hadlow former ATE
The former Hadlow telephone exchange is in School Lane, Hadlow, TN11 0EH.
It came into use as a UAX13, possibly in the late 1930s, to replace a manual exchange.
It closed on 8 July 1981 when it was replaced by the current exchange.
Its dialling code was 073 279.
Photo required.
Hildenborough ATE
ID: NDHIL. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Hildenborough former ATE
The former Hildenborough Telephone Exchange was located in Riding Lane, Hildenborough, Tonbridge TN11 9HL and served Hildenborough and the surrounding villages. The building now houses the local library.
ID: NDHIL. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Hillfort former relief ATE
Hillfort was the name chosen for a relief unit for Borough Green exchange.
It came into use on 10 May 1973 and ceased operation on 21 August 1974 when the new Borough Green exchange was opened.
Its dialling code may have been 073 287 but this has not been confirmed.
Illustration from the 1974 Bexley and Dartford directory.
Hopfield former relief ATE
Hopfield was the name chosen for a relief unit for Hadlow exchange.
It came into use in mid-1971 and ceased operation on 8 July 1981 when the current Hadlow exchange was opened.
Its dialling code may have been 073 274, but this has yet to be confirmed.
Illustration from the 1976 Tunbridge Wells directory.
Ide Hill ATE
Ide Hill telephone exchange is located in Sundridge Road, Ide Hill, Sevenoaks TN14 6JT and serves Ide Hill and surrounding villages.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01732-75.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 073 275.
ID: NDIHI. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Plaxtol ATE
Plaxtol Telephone Exchange is located in Plaxtol Lane, Plaxtol, Sevenoaks TN15 0QG and serves Plaxtol and the surrounding villages.
The telephone codes for this exchange include 01732-81.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 073 276.
ID: NDPLA. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Seal ATE
Seal telephone exchange is located in Childsbridge Lane, Seal, Sevenoaks TN15 0BU and serves Seal and the surrounding area.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01732-76.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 0732.
ID: NDSEA. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Seal former ATE
The former Seal telephone exchange is in Jubilee Rise, Seal, Sevenoaks TN15 0BH.
Built in 1938, it closed in the early 1970s and was bought by the former Sevenoaks Urban Council in 1974 for £15,000 but was sold again after local government reorganisation. It was converted into a house around 1980.
Photo required.
Sevenoaks ATE
Sevenoaks Telephone Exchange is located in South Park, Sevenoaks TN13 1EB and serves Dunton Green, Riverhead, Sevenoaks, Underriver and Weald.
In 1986 Sevenoaks was the first AXE10 (System Y) exchange to open.
The telephone codes for this exchange include 01732-4 and 01732-74.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 0732.
ID: NDSEV. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Tonbridge ATE
Tonbridge telephone exchange is located in Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge TN9 1TN and serves Tonbridge and the surrounding area.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 01732-3 and 01732-77.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 073 22.
ID: NDTON. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Townhill former relief ATE
Townhill was the name chosen for a relief unit for West Malling exchange.
It came into use on 22 May 1966 and ceased operation on 31 May 1972 when the current West Malling exchange was opened.
It is not thought to have been given a national dialling code.
Illustration from the 1967 Maidstone STD code book, local section.
Weald former ATE
The former Weald Telephone Exchange is located in Sevenoaks Weald, Sevenoaks TN14 and served Sevenoaks Weald and the surrounding area.
When this exchange closed subscribers were transferred to the Sevenoaks exchange.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 073 277.
Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
West Mallings ATE
West Malling Telephone Exchange is located in London Road, Leybourne, West Malling ME19 5AU and serves West Malling and the surrounding area.
The telephone codes for this exchange are 01732-22, 01732-52, 01732-84 and 01732-87.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 073 283.
ID: NDWMA. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.