The ten BT Telephone Exchanges (and six former) in the Shaftesbury (01747) telephone area
Bourton ATE
Bourton telephone exchange is in New Road, Bourton, Gillingham SP8 5DB and also serves an area including Cucklington and Zeals.
It came into service around 1981 to replace a UAX when lines became Borton 840*** numbers.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01747-84.
Its former dialling code was 0747.
ID: STBORTN. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.
Bourton former ATE
The former Bourton telephone exchange is behind Holly Cottage in New Road, Bourton, Gillingham SP8 5BJ.
It came into service as a UAX13 on Tuesday 26 July 1938 and closed around 1981 when it was replaced by the current exchange. It is now a private house.
Its former code was 074 784.
ID: STBORTN. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.
Donhead ATE
Donhead telephone exchange is in Brookwater, Donhead St Andrew, Shaftesbury SP7 9LG and also serves an area including Donhead St Mary, Ludwell and Charlton.
The first auto exchange here came into service in the late 1940s as a UAX13.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01747-828.
Its former dialling code was 074 788.
ID: STDONHD. Picture courtesy of David Hillas.
East Knoyle ATE
East Knoyle telephone exchange is in Church Road, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6AE and also serves an area including West Knoyle and Sedgehill.
It came into service on 28 July 1930 as an RAX5.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01747-830.
Its former dialling code was 074 783.
ID: STEASTK. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.
East Stour ATE
East Stour telephone exchange is at the crossroads, East Stour, Gillingham SP8 5LW and also serves an area including West Stour and Sherborne Causeway.
The first auto exchange here was an RAX5, replaced by a UAX 12 (or possibly 13) on Tuesday 23 June 1936.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01747-838.
Its former dialling code was 074 785.
ID: STEASTS. Picture courtesy of David Hillas.
Fontmell Magna ATE
Fontmell Magna telephone exchange is in The Mead, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury SP7 0PH and also serves an area including Iwerne Minster and Compton Abbas.
It came into service around 1980 to replace a UAX.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01747-81.
Its former dialling code was 0747.
ID: STFONTM. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.
Fontmell Magna former ATE
The former Fontmell Magna telephone exchange is on the corner of The Mead, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury SP7 0PH.
It came into service at 1.30pm on Monday 12 December 1938 to replace a manual exchange. It closed around 1980 and has been converted into a private house.
Its dialling code was 074 781.
ID: STFONTM. Picture courtesy of Rightmove.
Gillingham ATE
Gillingham telephone exchange is in Buckingham Road, Gillingham SP8 4QF and also serves an area including Wyke, Peacemarsh and Milton on Stour.
It came into service around 1970 to replace a UAX (location not known to us).
The principal telephone codes for this exchange include 01747-82.
Its former dialling code was 074 76.
ID: STGILGM. Picture (2009) courtesy of Geoff Trim.
Gillingham former TE
The former Gillingham telephone exchange is in Station Road, Gillingham SP8 4PY and also served an area including Wyke, Peacemarsh and Milton on Stour.
Its former dialling code was 074 76.
ID: STGILGM. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.
Hindon ATE
Hindon telephone exchange is near the junction of School Lane and the B3089 in Hindon, Salisbury SP3 6ER and also serves an area including Chicklade and Fonthill Bishop.
A UAX12 was opened here in 1936, possibly to replace an RAX5.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01747-820.
Its former dialling code was 074 789.
ID: STHINDN. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.
Mere ATE
Mere telephone exchange is in North Street, Mere, Warminster BA12 6HH and also serves an area including Barrow Street and Mapperton Hill.
It came into service in 1980 to replace a UAX when lines became Mere 860*** numbers.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01747-86.
Its former dialling code was 0747.
ID: STMERE. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.
Mere former ATE
The former Mere telephone exchange is in Manor Road, Mere, Warminster BA12 6HY.
It came into service as a UAX13 around 1940 to replace an RAX 5 which opened on 15 May 1934.
Its dialling code was 074 786.
ID: STMERE. Picture courtesy of Southill Vets.
Shaftesbury ATE
Shaftesbury telephone exchange is in Angel Lane, Shaftesbury SP7 8DF and also serves an area including Motcombe and Melbury Abbas.
It came into service at 1.15pm on Friday 9 July 1948, replacing a manual exchange in the former head post office in Bleke Street (now demolished).
The telephone codes for this exchange include 01747-85.
Its former dialling code was 0747.
ID: STSHABY. Picture courtesy of Robin Drayton.
Shaftesbury former Manual Exchange
The first Shaftesbury telephone exchange was at 2 The Commons, Shaftesbury SP7 8JX (seen here on the right).
Opened by the National Telephone Company, it came into service in 1899 with six subscribers. Around 1920 it was moved to the then head post office in Bleke Street (since demolished). The building was latterly occupied by a branch of HSBC bank, which closed in 2023.
Picture courtesy of David Lovell.
Tisbury ATE
Tisbury telephone exchange is in The Avenue, Tisbury, Salisbury SP3 6JJ Â and also serves an area including Fonthill Gifford and Swalllowcliffe.
It came into service in 1979 when lines became Tisbury 870*** numbers.
The principal telephone code for this exchange is 01747-87.
Its former dialling code was 0747.
ID: STTISBY. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.
Tisbury former ATE
The former Tisbury telephone exchange is located in The Causeway, Tisbury, Salisbury SP3 6LB.
Despite being apparently planned and built before World War II, it didn’t come into service until the 1950s to replace a CBS2 manual exchange. It closed in 1979 and is now a private house.
Its dialling code was 074 787.
ID: STTISBY. Photo courtesy of Richard Stephens.