The five BT Telephone Exchanges (and two former) in the Workington (01900) telephone area
Allonby ATE
Allonby Telephone Exchange is located in Moss Lane, Allonby, Maryport CA15 6QG and serves Allonby and the surrounding area.
This exchange was originally equipped with a UAX13.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01900-881.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 090 084.
ID: LCALL. Photo courtesy of Andrew Holland.
Brigham former ATE
The former Brigham Telephone Exchange was located in Low Road, Brigham, Cockermouth CA13 0XH and served Brigham and the surrounding villages.
The building has sadly been demolished some years ago and all that remains are the foundations.
This exchange was originally equipped with a UAX13.
When this exchange closed subscribers were transferred to the Cockermouth exchange.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 090-083.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Holland.
Cockermouth ATE
Cockermouth Telephone Exchange is located in South Street, Cockermouth CA13 9RT and serves Cockermouth and the surrounding villages.
This exchange was originally equipped with a UAX14, then updated to a TXE2.The old UAX14 building was demolished when the TXE2 opened and became the car park for the Post Office sorting office on the same site.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01900-82.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 090 082.
ID: LCCOC. Photo courtesy of Andrew Holland.
Lorton ATE
Lorton Telephone Exchange is located on Regional Route 71 in High Lorton, Cockermouth CA13 9UL and serves Low Lorton, High Lorton and the surrounding area. This exchange was originally equipped with a UAX12 before being upgraded to an SAX.
The telephone code for this exchange is 01900-85.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 090 085.
ID: LCLOR. Photo courtesy of Andrew Holland.
Lorton former ATE
The first Lorton ATE appears to have stood on the site of the current exchange in High Lorton, Cockermouth CA13 9UL.
It came into service as an RAX 5 on 10 September 1929 with 10 lines. It was converted to a UAX12 about seven years later.
It has since been demolished.
Picture courtesy of BT Archives.
Maryport ATE
Maryport Telephone Exchange is located in Wood Street, Maryport CA15 6LD and serves Maryport and the surrounding area.
The squat building was the original building and an extension was added for a TXE2 in the late 1970s.
The telephone code for this exchange 01900-81.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 090 081.
ID: LCMAR. Photo courtesy of Andrew Holland.
Workington ATE
Workington Telephone Exchange is located in Gray Street, Workington CA14 2NH and serves Workington and the surrounding area.
The building was built as a single story exchange and in the 1970s had an extra floor added for growth and the equipment for International Direct Dialling (IDD).
The telephone codes for this exchange include 01900-60, 01900-61, 01900-62, 01900-63, 01900-64, 01900-65, 01900-66, 01900-67, 01900-73 and 01900-87.
The former dialling code for this exchange was 0900.
ID: LCWOR. Photo courtesy of Andrew Holland.