The fifteen BT Telephone Exchanges (and eleven former) in the Taunton (01823) telephone area
Bishops Lydeard ATE
Bishops Lydeard telephone exchange is located in Station Road, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton TA4 3BU. Its coverage area also includes Halse, Seven Ash, Cockercombe, Cothelstone, Cotford St Luke, Combe Flory and West Bagborough.
It is believed that it came into service around 1976 when Bishops Lydeard lines became 432*** numbers.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-43.
Its former dialling code was 082 343.
ID: WWBLYD. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Bishops Lydeard former ATE #2
The second Bishops Lydeard ATE is situated in Station Road, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton TA4 3BU.
It replaced the former exchange in Minehead Road in the 1950s and closed around 1976.
It is currently (2025) a veterinary surgery.
Its dialling code was 082 343.
ID: WWBLYD. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Bishops Lydeard former ATE #1
The first Bishops Lydeard ATE is situated in Minehead Road, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton TA4 3BS.
It came into service on 9 May 1938 as a UAX13 replacing a manual exchange opened around 1922. It was already disused by 1956 when Taunton council objected to GPO plans to turn it into a garage. It is now part of the grounds of 10 Minehead Road.
Its local dialling code from Taunton was 77 (623 from 16 November 1950).
Photo by John Cranston.
Blagdon Hill ATE
Blagdon Hill telephone exchange is located in Howleigh Lane, Blagdon Hill, Taunton TA3 7SW. It also serves Corfe, Pitminster and Angersleigh. It came into service around 1940 as a UAX12, replacing a manual exchange opened about 1926.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-42.
Its former dialling code was 082 342.
ID: WWBLAG. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Bradford-on-Tone ATE
Bradford-on-Tone telephone exchange is located on the A38 at Bradford-on-Tone, Taunton TA4 1ER. It also serves Oake, Hele, Barr and Rumwell.
Bradford-on-Tone exchange came into service as a RAX5 on 14 July 1932 and was upgraded to a UAX in 1939.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-46.
Its former dialling code was 082 346.
ID: WWBTON. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Burrowbridge ATE
Burrowbridge telephone exchange stands in North Lane, Othery, Taunton TA7 0QG and serves Othery, Burrowbridge, East Lyng, Athelney, Stathe and East Lyng.
It opened in the 1960s to replace the first ATE in Burrowbridge itself.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-69.
Its former dialling code was 082 369.
ID: WWBURR. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Burrowbridge former ATE
The first Burrowbridge  ATE stands in School Lane, Burrowbridge, Taunton TA7 0FA and served Othery, Burrowbridge, East Lyng, Athelney, Stathe and East Lyng.
It opened on 29 October 1946, replacing a manual exchange in the post office, run for the previous 20 years by postmistress Elizabeth Storey. It closed in the 1960s after planners refused permission for it to be expanded into the neighbouring school’s grounds and was replaced by the current exchange in Othery.
Its local dialling code from Taunton was 77 (647 from 16 November 1950).
ID: WWBURR. Photo courtesy of David Hillas.
Churchstanton ATE
Churchstanton telephone exchange is located near Glebe Farm, Smeatharpe Road, Churchstanton, Taunton TA3 7DW and also covers Churchinford, Otterford and Stapley.
The first exchange here came into service as an RAX5 on 19 April 1932 and was upgraded to a UAX12 in 1936.
It was converted from Strowger to digital operation post-1987.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-60.
Its former dialling code was 082 360.
ID: WWCSTN. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Greenham ATE
Greenham telephone exchange is located next to Newlands House, Gypsy Lane,Thorne St Margaret, Greenham, Wellington TA21 0LZ and also covers Ashbritttle, Apley, Burlescombe, Holcombe Rogus and Westleigh.
It is believed it came into service around 1973 when Greenham lines became 672*** numbers. Its predecessor exchange (location unknown) came into operation on 21 June 1949, replacing a manual switchboard opened with five subscrbers in 1921 and operated throughout by postmistress Mrs L May.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-67.
The former exchange’s dialling code was 082 367.
ID: WWGHAM. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Hatch Beauchamp ATE
Hatch Beauchamp exchange is located in Village Road, Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton TA3 6TH. It also serves West Hatch, Curry Mallet, Beercrocombe, Wrantage, Ashill and Stewley.
The first auto exchange here was a UAX 12, situated in Village Road TA3 6TH, which came into service on Tuesday 15 June 1937, replacing a manual exchange opened around 1926. An electronic exchange came into service around 1978 when all lines became 480*** numbers.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-48.
Its former dialling code was 082 348.
ID: WWHBCM. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Hatch Beauchamp former ATE
The former Hatch Beauchamp exchange is in Village Road, Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton TA3 6TH.
The first ATE here was a UAX12 which came into service on Tuesday 15 June 1937 replacing a manual exchange opened around 1926.
It was later replaced by a UAX 13 which closed around 1978.
Its dialling code was 082 348.
ID: WWHBCM. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Hemyock ATE
Hemyock telephone exchange’s address is officially New Telephone Exchange, Culmbridge Road, Hemyock, Cullompton EX15 3PD. It also serves Ashculme, Culm Davy and Madford. It came into service around 1981 when Hemyock lines became 680*** numbers.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-68.
Its former dialling code was 082 368.
ID: WWHEMY. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Hemyock former ATE
The former Hemyock telephone exchange is located in Culmbridge Road, Hemyock, Cullompton EX15 3PD. It came into service around 1952 when Hemyock became diallable from Taunton (code 640), replacing a manual exchange opened in the post office around 1924. It is now a (two-storey) private house.
Its dialling code was 082 368.
ID: WWHEMY. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Henlade ATE
Henlade telephone exchange is located on the on south side of the A358 in Henlade, Taunton TA3 5HU. It also serves Creech St Michael, Thornfalcon, Stoke St Mary and Ruishton.
It is believed to have opened around 1972 when Henlade lines became 442*** numbers.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-44.
Its former dialling code was 082 344.
ID: WWHENL. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Henlade former ATE
The former Henlade exchange is in Stoke Road, Henlade, Taunton TA3 5LX.
The first ATE here was an RAX5 which came into service on 26 October 1931, the area having previously been covered in part by rural party line Taunton 141. It was replaced by a UAX 12 by 1936 and later by a UAX 13 which closed around 1972.
Its dialling code was 082 344.
ID: WWHENL. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Kingston St Mary ATE
Kingston St Mary exchange is located in Parsonage Lane, Kingston St. Mary, Taunton TA2 8HL. It also serves Nailsbourne, Fulford, Cheddon Fitzpaine and Upper Cheddon.
Originally called Kingston (the current name was adopted in 1953) It was opened on 31 August 1936, its dialling code from Taunton then being 78. It replaced a manual exchange opened about 1929, the area having previously been served in part by the rural party line Taunton 343. It was converted from Strowger to digital working after 1988.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 0823-45.
Its former dialling code was 082 345.
ID: WWKSTM. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Milverton ATE
Milverton telephone exchange is in Rosebank Road, Milverton, Taunton TA4 1PW. It also serves Chipley, Langford Budville and Heathfield.
It came into operation around 1952 when it became diallable from Taunton (code 639) replacing a manual exchange opened around 1923. It was converted to electronic working around 1981 when Milverton lines became 400*** numbers.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-40.
Its former dialling code was 082 340.
ID: WWMILV. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
North Curry ATE
North Curry exchange is located in Knapp Lane, North Curry, Taunton TA3 6AU and also serves Stoke St Gregory, West Lyng, Knapp, Lillesdon, Helland and Newport. Its predecessor exchange (on the same site) came into service around 1936 as a UAX12, replacing a manual switchboard opened in the post office on 31 August 1921. It has since been demolished.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-49.
Its former dialling code was 082 349.
ID: WWNCUR. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Taunton ATE
Taunton telephone exchange is located in Pollards Yard, Taunton TA1 1UP. It also serves Norton Fitzwarren, Bishop’s Hull and Trull. It came into service around 1979, replacing the former exchange in Whirligig Lane.
The principal telephone codes for this exchange include 01823-2, 01823-3 and 01823-61.
Its former dialling code was 0823.
ID: WWTAUN. Photo courtesy of Simon Cowper-Smith.
Taunton former ATE
This building, in Hamilton Road, Taunton TA1 2EQ, was originally thought to be a former Taunton automatic exchange but was actually a Telephone Repeater Station.
The building is now used as a church.
Photo courtesy of Nigel Freeney.
Taunton former Manual Exchange
The first Taunton exchange was at 6 Hammett Street, Taunton (now TA1 1RZ).
A magneto board, it was opened by the National Telephone Company on 18 November 1895 with 27 subscribers.
It remained in service until automation on 30 November 1935.
The building is now the offices of a firm of solicitors.
Photo courtesy of BT Archives.
Wellington ATE
Wellington telephone exchange is located in Scotts Lane, Wellington TA21 8PL. It also serves Runnington, Nynehead, Blackmoor, West Buckland, Ford Street and Sampford Moor.
It came into service at 1pm on 8 May 1956 to replace a manual exchange.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-66.
Its former dialling code was 082 347.
ID: WWWELL. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
Wellington former Manual Exchange #2
The second manual exchange in the town was at 43 High Street, Wellington (now TA21 8QY).
It opened in 1933 to replaced the first exchange in Orchard Villas. It closed in 1956 when its 650 lines were transferred to the ATE in Scotts Lane.
The building is now (2025) a dental practice and flats.
Photo courtesy of Rightmove.
Wellington former Manual Exchange #1
The first exchange in the town was at 1 Orchard Villas, High Street, Wellington (now TA21 8RE, opposite Waitrose).
It was opened by the National Telephone Company in 1901 with six subscribers. It closed in 1933 when the exchange was moved to 43 High Street. It is now a private house.
Photo courtesy of BT Archives.
West Monkton ATE
West Monkton telephone exchange is located in Dosters Lane, West Monkton, Taunton TA2 8NP. It also serves Thurloxton, Durston, Bathpool, Monkton Heathfield and Charlton. It is believed it came into service around 1976 when West Monkton lines became 412*** numbers.
The telephone code for this exchange is principally 01823-41.
Its former dialling code was 082 341.
ID: WWWMON. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.
West Monkton former ATE
The former West Monkton telephone exchange is located in Dosters Lane, West Monkton, Taunton TA2 8NP. It came into service as a UAX 12 or 13 in around 1940, when West Monkton numbers became diallable from Taunton (code then 74). It replaced a manual exchange opened around 1926. It closed around 1976 and is now privately owned.
Its STD code was 082 341.
ID: WWWMON. Photo courtesy of John Cranston.