London director system exchange names

London Director Exchange Names

In dial-numeric order

A list of all the codes in use in the London (England) Director system circa 1966.

Relist in exchange name order
Dialling code booklet 1964 | Dialling code booklet 1968 | Phone pages index

Name

Area served

Local justification for name

was

267

ANSon

was

268

ANVil

was

100

Bletchingley (manual)

was

968

f* j

XM 8

Brasted

was

295

BX 5

Burgh Heath (manual)

was

382

h l

DUChess

was

355

DL 5

Downland (manual)

was

434

GE 4

Gerrard's Cross (4 figure nos)

was

100

Godstone (manual)

was

406

HOMerton

was

456

HL 6

Hatfield (Herts, 4 figure nos)

was

100

Headley (Surrey, manual)

was

403

HO 3

Hoddesdon (4 figure nos)

was

469

INWood

was

756

RL 6

Redhill (manual)

was

749

RH 9

Rickmansworth (4 figure nos)

was

784

RU 4

Ruislip (4 figure nos)

was

768

SM 8

Sunbury-on-Thames (4 figure nos)

was

757

f j

SK 7

Swakeleys

123

was

846

s u

TIM

Speaking Clock [TIMe]

151

was

364

ENG

Telephone out of order or broken [ENGineer]

160

was

867

s u

UMP

Test Match score [UMPire]

191

was

463

INF

Other Telephone Enquiries and Supervisor

192

was

347

DIR

Directory Enquiries, Inland

196

still

196

s l

Automatic director testing

190

was

835

TEL

Inland telegrams and Enquiries

100

still

100

Bayford

100

Bletchingley (manual)

100

still

100

Chalvey Park

100

Godstone (manual)

100

Headley (Surrey, manual)

100

still

100

Iver Heath

100

still

100

North Weald

Name

Area served

Local justification for name

Central sector

222

still

222

ABBey

Westminster

Westminster Abbey

223

spare

22.4

still

Caterham

225

now

672

BALham

Tooting

area served

226

still

226

CANonbury

Highbury

area served

227

now

449

BARnet

Barnet

228

still

228

BATtersea

Battersea

229

still

229

BAYswater

Bayswater

220

now

992

ACOrn

Acton

Acorn Gardens

Central sector

232

now

650

BECkenham

Beckenham

233

now

654

ADDiscombe

Addiscombe and South Norwood

234

now

939

BE 4

Betchworth (Surrey)

235

still

235

BELgravia

Belgravia

236

still

236

CENtral

City of London

Central Markets

237

still

237

BERmondsey

Bermondsey

238

now

980

ADVance

Bow and Mile End

239

now

303

BEXleyheath

Bexleyheath

230

spare

Central sector

242

still

242

CHAncery

Holborn

Chancery Lane

243

now

540

CHErrywood

Merton and South Wimbledon

Cherry Wood (Shaldon Drive)

244

now

994

CHIswick

Chiswick

245

spare

246

was

275

s u

ASK

Teletourist and Road Weather

246

was

932

s u

WEA

Weather

247

still

247

BIShopsgate

City of London

street of this name

248

still

248

CITy

City of London

249

was

772

SPArtan

Dalston

240

was

208

COVent Garden

Covent Garden

Central sector

252

now

476

ALBert Dock

Plaistow and Canning Town

Albert Dock

253

still

253

CLErkenwell

Clerkenwell

254

still

254

CLIssold

Dalston

Clissold Park

25.5

still

Burgh Heath (automatic)

256

spare

257

now

998

ALPerton

Perivale, Alperton and North Ealing

258

now

656

BLUebell

Addiscombe and South Norwood

259

still

259

BK 9

Bookham

250

now

552

CLOcktower

East Ham

Central sector

262

still

262

AMBassador

Paddington

some embassies

263

was

848

h l

VIVian

264

now

985

AMHerst

Hackney

Amhurst Road

265

still

265

BM 5

Bowmansgreen

266

still

266

CM 6

Cobham (Surrey)

267

ANSon

268

ANVil

269

still

269

BN 9

Biggin Hill

260

still

260

CN 0

Chorleywood

Central sector

272

still

272

ARChway

Holloway

road viaduct

273

now

550

CREscent

Barkingside and Redbridge

274

still

274

BRIxton

Brixton

275

now

246

s u

ASK

Teletourist and Road Weather

276

now

904

ARNold

North Wembley

277

now

679

APPlewood

278

still

278

BRUnswick

King’s Cross

279

now

659

CRYstal Palace

Sydenham and Penge

exchg. is in Crystal Palace Park Road

270

now

688

CROydon

Croydon

Central sector

282

now

504

BUCkhurst

Woodford and Buckhurst Hill

283

still

283

AVEnue

City of London (Monument)

Throgmorton Avenue

284

still

284

CU 4

Cuffley

285

now

568

ATLas

Isleworth

286

still

286

CUNningham

Maida Vale

287

now

950

BUShey Heath

Bushey Heath

288

spare

289

was

507

LORds

Lords and Maida Vale

Lords Cricket Ground

280

spare

South East sector

292

spare

293

spare

29.4

still

Byfleet

295

BX 5

Burgh Heath (manual)

29.5

still

Crayford

296

still

296

s l

Automatic director testing

297

now

422

BYRon

South Harrow

298

still

298

AX 8

Ashtead

299

now

668

BYWood

Purley and Kenley

several woods

290

was

878

TST

North West sector

202

was

436

HENdon

Hendon

203

was

786

SUNnyhill

Hendon

204

was

379

DRYden

Kingsbury

205

still

205

COLindale

Colindale

206

now

864

CONcord

South Harrow

207

now

520

COPpermill

Walthamstow

Coppermill Lane

208

now

240

COVent Garden

Covent Garden

209

now

888

BOWes Park

Wood Green

area served

200

now

949

COOmbe End

New Malden

area served

Name

Area served

Local justification for name

Central sector

32.2

still

Dartford (Kent)

323

spare

324

now

644

FAIrlands

Sutton and Cheam

325

now

567

EALing

Ealing

326

now

304

DANson Park

Bexleyheath

Danson Park

327

now

987

EASt

Poplar

“East End” of London

328

was

545

KILburn

Kilburn and Maida Vale

329

spare

320

still

320

FA 0

Farningham

South West sector

332

still

332

DE 2

Denham (Bucks)

333

spare

334

now

952

EDGware

Edgware

335

now

890

FELtham

Feltham and East Bedfont

336

now

807

EDMonton

Edmonton

337

still

337

DERwent

Worcester Park

338

spare

339

now

549

h v l

EDWard

Kingston

330

was

425

GALleon

Worcester Park

North sector

342

now

359

DICkens

Highbury

343

now

868

FIEld End

Pinner and Eastcote

344

now

392

EH 4

Epsom

345

now

903

DILigence

Wembley

346

still

346

FINchley

Finchley

347

now

192

DIR

Directory Enquiries, Inland

348

still

348

FITzroy

Hornsey and Highgate

349

was

847

VIRginia

Finchley

340

was

608

MOUntview

Hornsey and Highgate

Central sector

352

still

352

FLAxman

Chelsea

353

still

353

FLEet Street

Fleet Street

354

now

965

ELGar

Harlesden

Elgar Avenue (off Mitchellbrook Way), NW10

355

DL 5

Downland (manual)

356

now

399

ELMbridge

Surbiton

Elmbridge Avenue

357

now

953

ELStree

Elstree

358

now

850

ELTham

Eltham

359

was

342

DICkens

Highbury

350

now

878

FLOral

Mortlake

North sector

362

now

398

EMBerbrook

Thames Ditton

363

still

363

ENField

Enfield

364

now

151

ENG

Telephone out of order or broken [ENGineer]

36.5

still

Farnborough (Kent)

366

was

532

KEAts

Enfield

367

now

603

EMPress

West Kensington

368

still

368

ENTerprise

Southgate

369

still

369

FM 9

Farnham Common (Bucks)

360

was

522

LABurnum

Winchmore Hill

Central sector

372

now

669

FRAnklin

Wallington and Carshalton

373

still

373

DREadnought

Earls Court

373

still

373

FREmantle

Earls Court

374

spare

375

still

375

EP 5

Epping

37.6

still

Esher

377

spare

378

now

908

DRUmmond

North Wembley

379

now

204

DRYden

Kingsbury

370

still

370

FRObisher

Earls Court

Central sector

382

h l

DUChess

38.3

still

Erith

384

spare

385

still

385

DUKe

Fulham

385

still

385

FULham

Fulham

386

now

690

DUNcan

Catford

387

still

387

EUSton

Euston

388

spare

389

still

389

ET 9

Egham

380

spare

South West sector

392

was

344

EH 4

Epsom

393

still

393

EWEll

Ewell

394

was

489

IVYdale

Ewell

395

still

395

FX 5

Fulmer (Bucks)

396

still

396

s l

Automatic director testing

397

was

509

LOWer Hook

Chessington

area served

398

was

362

EMBerbrook

Thames Ditton

399

was

356

ELMbridge

Surbiton

Elmbridge Avenue

390

was

524

h v l

LAGoon

Surbiton

Surbiton Lagoon

South East sector

302

was

927

WARing Park

Sidcup

Waring Park

303

was

239

BEXleyheath

Bexleyheath

304

was

326

DANson Park

Bexleyheath

Danson Park

305

now

450

DOLlis Hill

Cricklewood and Dollis Hill

306

now

592

DOMinion

Dagenham

307

now

699

FORest Hill

Forest Hill

308

now

677

FOUntain

Streatham

309

now

882

FOX Lane

Palmers Green

300

still

300

FOOts Cray

Sidcup

area served

Name

Area served

Local justification for name

North West sector

422

was

297

BYRon

South Harrow

423

now

440

HADley Green

Barnet

area served

424

now

500

HAInault

Hainault

425

now

330

GALleon

Worcester Park

426

now

435

HAMpstead

Hampstead

427

still

427

HARrow

Harrow

428

still

428

HATch End

Hatch End

429

now

573

HAYes

Hayes (Middx) and Cranford

420

still

420

HA 0

Harefield

Central sector

432

still

432

HEAdquarters

City of London

GPO Headquarters

432

was

577

LPR

City of London

London Postal region

433

still

433

HE 3

Hertford

434

GE 4

Gerrard's Cross (4 figure nos)

435

was

426

HAMpstead

Hampstead

436

now

202

HENdon

Hendon

437

still

437

GERrard

Soho

Gerrard Street

438

spare

439

spare

430

now

579

GEOrgian

Ealing

North sector

442

now

789

GIBbon

Putney

Edward Gibbon (Decline and Fall …) was born in Putney

443

spare

444

still

444

HIGhgate Wood

Muswell Hill

area served

445

still

445

HILlside

North Finchley

446

was

502

h l

LOCkwood

447

now

670

GIPsy Hill

Gipsy Hill and West Norwood

published

448

now

698

HITher Green

Catford and Bellingham

area served

449

was

227

BARnet

Barnet

440

was

423

HADley Green

Barnet

area served

North West sector

452

still

452

GLAdstone

Cricklewood and Dollis Hill

453

now

478

ILFord

Ilford

45.4

still

Ingrebourne

River Ingrebourne, serves Harold Wood

455

was

773

SPEedwell

Golders Green

456

HL 6

Hatfield (Herts, 4 figure nos)

45.6

still

Hatfield (Herts, 5 figure nos)

45.7

still

Hatfield (Herts, 5 figure nos)

458

was

632

MEAdway

Golders Green

459

was

945

WILlesden

Willesden

450

was

305

DOLlis Hill

Cricklewood and Dollis Hill

450

now

675

h l

GLObe

South East sector

462

was

487

HURstway

Hayes, Kent

Hurstfield, Hurstdene Avenue or Hurst Close

463

now

191

INF

Other Telephone Enquiries and Supervisor

464

was

943

WIDmore

Bromley

Widmore Road

465

spare

46.6

still

Hoddesdon (5 figure nos)

467

still

467

IMPerial

Chislehurst and Bickley

Louis-Napoléon lived and died here

468

spare

469

INWood

460

was

728

RAVensbourne

Bromley

river Ravensbourne

East sector

472

still

472

GRAngewood

East Ham

473

now

858

GREenwich

Greenwich

474

now

954

GRImsdyke

Stanmore

see note

475

now

560

ISLeworth

Isleworth and Brentford

476

was

252

ALBert Dock

Plaistow and Canning Town

Albert Dock

476

now

640

h l

ISMay

477

still

477

GR 7

Garston (Herts)

478

was

453

ILFord

Ilford

479

still

479

GR 9

Greenhithe

470

now

499

GROsvenor

Mayfair

Grosvenor Square

Central sector

482

now

505

IVAnhoe

Woodford and Buckhurst Hill

483

now

572

HUDson

Hounslow and Heston

484

spare

485

still

485

GULliver

Kentish Town

486

still

486

HUNter

St Marylebone

487

now

462

HURstway

Hayes, Kent

Hurstfield, Hurstdene Avenue or Hurst Close

488

spare

489

now

394

IVYdale

Ewell

480

spare

Central sector

492

spare

493

still

493

HYDe Park

Mayfair

Hyde Park

49.4

still

Hornchurch

49.5

still

Hornchurch

496

still

496

s l

Automatic director testing

497

now

670

GYPsy Hill

Gipsy Hill and West Norwood

unpublished

49.8

still

Gerrard's Cross (5 figure nos)

499

was

470

GROsvenor

Mayfair

Grosvenor Square

490

still

490

IX 0

Iver

Central sector

402

spare

403

HO 3

Hoddesdon (4 figure nos)

404

now

749

HOGarth

Shepherds Bush

405

still

405

HOLborn

Holborn

406

HOMerton

407

still

407

HOP

Southwark

historically several hop merchants

408

now

570

HOUnslow

Hounslow and Heston

409

now

804

HOWard

Ponders End

400

now

599

GOOdmayes

Seven Kings and Goodmayes

Name

Area served

Local justification for name

East sector

522

now

360

LABurnum

Winchmore Hill

523

now

969

LADbroke

Kensal Green

Ladbroke Grove

524

now

390

h v l

LAGoon

Surbiton

Surbiton Lagoon

525

now

947

LAKeside

Wimbledon

Lake in Wimbledon Park

526

now

580

LANgham

Bloomsbury

Langham Place

527

still

527

LARkswood

Highams Park

Larks Wood

528

now

802

LATimer

Stamford Hill

529

was

745

SILverthorn

Chingford

520

was

207

COPpermill

Walthamstow

Coppermill Lane

East sector

532

now

366

KEAts

Enfield

533

now

852

LEE Green

Lewisham

area served

534

was

627

MARyland

Stratford and Forest Gate

Tube Station, etc.

535

now

673

KELvin

Balham

536

now

589

KENsington

South Kensington

537

still

537

LE 7

Leatherhead

538

spare

539

still

539

LEYtonstone

Leytonstone

530

was

762

SNAresbrook

Wanstead

area served

South West sector

542

still

542

LIBerty

Merton and South Wimbledon

543

spare

544

still

544

KG 4

King's Langley

545

now

328

KILburn

Kilburn and Maida Vale

546

still

546

KINgston-upon-Thames

Kingston

547

now

857

KIPling

Mottingham and Grove Park

548

now

653

LIVingstone

Norwood

Livingstone Road

549

was

339

h v l

EDWard

Kingston

540

was

243

CHErrywood

Merton and South Wimbledon

Cherry Wood (Shaldon Drive)

East sector

552

was

250

CLOcktower

East Ham

553

was

873

TREvelyan

Ilford

554

was

825

VALentine

Ilford

Valentine Public House, 27 Perth Road

555

spare

556

was

724

RAGlan

Leytonstone

557

still

557

Overseas Telegrams

5585

still

5585

LK 85

Long Cross

5587

still

5587

LK 87

Ottershaw (3 figure nos)

559

still

559

Overseas Telegram Enquiries

550

was

273

CREscent

Barkingside and Redbridge

West sector

562

still

562

KN 2

Knockholt

563

spare

564

now

584

KNIghtsbridge

South Kensington

Knightsbridge

56.5

still

St. Albans

56.6

still

St. Albans

567

was

325

EALing

Ealing

568

was

285

ATLas

Isleworth

5695

still

5695

KN 95

Colney Heath

560

was

475

ISLeworth

Isleworth and Brentford

West sector

572

was

483

HUDson

Hounslow and Heston

573

was

429

HAYes

Hayes (Middx) and Cranford

574

was

708

SOUthall

Southall

575

spare

576

still

576

LP 6

Limpsfield Chart

577

now

432

LPR

City of London

London Postal region

578

was

929

WAXlow

Greenford

Waxlow Crescent

579

was

430

GEOrgian

Ealing

570

was

408

HOUnslow

Hounslow and Heston

Central sector

582

now

960

j l

JUBilee

583

still

583

LUDgate Circus

Fleet Street

Ludgate Circus

584

was

564

KNIghtsbridge

South Kensington

Knightsbridge

585

still

585

LTK

Kingsway Trunk Exchange

586

still

586

JUNiper

St.Johns Wood

587

still

587

LTR (RHQ)

Vauxhall

London Telephones Region

588

was

506

LONdon Wall

City of London (Moorgate)

London Wall

589

was

536

KENsington

South Kensington

580

was

526

LANgham

Bloomsbury

Langham Place

East sector

592

was

306

DOMinion

Dagenham

593

still

593

LXD

Dagenham ?

594

was

747

RIPpleway

Barking

Ripple Road

595

spare

596

still

596

s l

Automatic director testing

597

spare

598

spare

599

was

400

GOOdmayes

Seven Kings and Goodmayes

590

was

738

SEVen Kings

Seven Kings and Goodmayes

East sector

502

now

446

h l

LOCkwood

503

still

503

LO 3

Lodge Hill

504

was

282

BUCkhurst

Woodford and Buckhurst Hill

505

was

482

IVAnhoe

Woodford and Buckhurst Hill

506

now

588

LONdon Wall

City of London (Moorgate)

London Wall

507

now

289

LORds

Lords and Maida Vale

Lords Cricket Ground

508

still

508

LOUghton

Loughton

509

now

397

LOWer Hook

Chessington

area served

500

was

424

HAInault

Hainault

Name

Area served

Local justification for name

Central sector

622

still

622

MACaulay

Nine Elms

623

was

646

MINcing Lane

City of London (Monument)

Mincing Lane

624

still

624

MAIda Vale

Lords (Kilburn, Maida Vale and South Hampstead)

625

now

942

MALden

New Malden

626

still

626

MANsion House

City of London (Monument)

Mansion House (building)

627

now

534

MARyland

Stratford and Forest Gate

Tube Station, etc.

628

still

628

NATional

City of London (Moorgate)

629

still

629

MAYfair

Mayfair

620

spare

Central sector

632

now

458

MEAdway

Golders Green

633

spare

634

spare

635

now

643

MELville

Sutton and Belmont

636

was

687

MUSeum

Bloomsbury

British Museum

637

still

637

MERedith

638

still

638

METropolitan

City of London (Monument)

639

still

639

NEW Cross

Peckham and New Cross

630

spare

South sector

642

was

844

VIGilant

Sutton and Belmont

don’t know - see note

643

was

635

MELville

Sutton and Belmont

644

was

324

FAIrlands

Sutton and Cheam

645

now

959

MILl Hill

Mill Hill

646

now

623

MINcing Lane

City of London (Monument)

Mincing Lane

647

was

925

WALlington (Surrey)

Wallington and Carshalton

648

still

648

MITcham

Mitcham and Morden

649

still

649

MH 9

Merstham

640

was

476

h l

ISMay

South sector

65.2

still

Northwood (Middx)

653

was

548

LIVingstone

Norwood

Livingstone Road

654

was

233

ADDiscombe

Addiscombe and South Norwood

655

still

655

ML 5

Chertsey

656

was

258

BLUebell

Addiscombe and South Norwood

657

was

726

SANderstead

Sanderstead and Selsdon

photo

658

spare

659

was

279

CRYstal Palace

Sydenham and Penge

exchg. is in Crystal Palace Park Road

650

was

232

BECkenham

Beckenham

South sector

66.2

still

Orpington

66.3

still

Orpington

664

spare

6658

still

6658

NM 58

Stapleford

666

spare

667

still

667

NN 7

Nazeing

668

was

299

BYWood

Purley and Kenley

several woods

669

was

372

FRAnklin

Wallington and Carshalton

660

was

875

UPLands

Purley and Kenley

high ground

South sector

672

was

225

BALham

Tooting

area served

673

was

535

KELvin

Balham

674

was

885

TULse Hill

Tulse Hill and Brixton Hill

675

was

450

h l

GLObe

676

spare

677

was

308

FOUntain

Streatham

678

spare

679

was

277

APPlewood

670

was

447

GIPsy Hill

Gipsy Hill and West Norwood

published

670

was

497

GYPsy Hill

Gipsy Hill and West Norwood

unpublished

South sector

682

still

682

NT 2

Nutfield Ridge

683

now

848

NUFfield

Hayes and Cranford

684

was

840

THOrnton Heath

Thornton Heath

685

now

889

MULberry

Wood Green

686

still

686

MUNicipal

Croydon

see note

687

now

636

MUSeum

Bloomsbury

British Museum

688

was

270

CROydon

Croydon

689

spare

680

spare

South East sector

692

was

843

TIDeway

Deptford

Thames tideway

693

was

809

TOWnley

Dulwich and Camberwell

Townley Road

69.4

still

Ashford (Middx)

69.5

still

Ashford (Middx)

696

still

696

s l

Automatic director testing

697

spare

698

was

448

HITher Green

Catford and Bellingham

area served

699

was

307

FORest Hill

Forest Hill

690

was

386

DUNcan

Catford

Central sector

602

still

602

NOBle

West Kensington

603

was

367

EMPress

West Kensington

604

still

604

MO 4

Mogador

605

now

979

MOLesey

East Molesey and Hampton

606

still

606

MONarch

City of London

607

still

607

NORth

Barnsbury

area is North of the City

608

now

340

MOUntview

Hornsey and Highgate

609

spare

600

still

600

MOOrgate

City of London

Moorgate

Name

Area served

Local justification for name

unallocated sector

71.3

still

Ruislip (5 figure nos)

71.5

still

Downland (automatic)

71.6

still

Redhill (automatic)

71.7

still

Ruislip (5 figure nos)

719

still

719

Ottershaw (4 figure nos)

Central sector

722

was

774

PRImrose

St.Johns Wood

Primrose Hill

723

still

723

PADdington

Paddington

724

now

556

RAGlan

Leytonstone

725

now

886

PALmers Green

Palmers Green

726

now

657

SANderstead

Sanderstead and Selsdon

photo

727

still

727

PARk

Bayswater and Notting Hill

Hyde Park

728

now

460

RAVensbourne

Bromley

river Ravensbourne

729

spare

720

still

720

SCOtt

Nine Elms

Central sector

732

still

732

PECkham Rye

Peckham and New Cross

733

still

733

REDpost

Brixton

Red Post Hill

734

still

734

REGent

Soho

Regent Street

735

still

735

RELiance

Kennington and Walworth (Vauxhall)

736

still

736

RENown

Fulham

737

now

997

PERivale

Perivale, Alperton and North Ealing

738

now

590

SEVen Kings

Seven Kings and Goodmayes

739

was

740

SHOreditch

Shoreditch

730

was

750

SLOane

Sloane Square

West sector

742

now

940

RIChmond (Surrey)

Richmond (Surrey)

743

still

743

SHEpherds Bush

Shepherds Bush

74.4

still

Reigate

745

now

529

SILverthorn

Chingford

746

now

866

PINner

Pinner and Eastcote

747

now

594

RIPpleway

Barking

Ripple Road

748

still

748

RIVerside

Hammersmith

beside the Thames

749

was

404

HOGarth

Shepherds Bush

749

RH 9

Rickmansworth (4 figure nos)

740

now

739

SHOreditch

Shoreditch

West sector

75.2

still

Slough

75.3

still

Slough

754

spare

755

still

755

SL 5

Swanley (Dartford)

756

RL 6

Redhill (manual)

757

f j

SK 7

Swakeleys

758

now

855

PLUmstead

Woolwich and Plumstead

759

still

759

SKYport

London Airport Heathrow and Harlington

750

now

730

SLOane

Sloane Square

South sector

762

now

530

SNAresbrook

Wanstead

area served

763

spare

764

was

705

POLlards

Norbury

Pollards Hill

76.5

still

Rainham (Essex, automatic)

766

still

766

SM 6

South Mimms

767

spare

768

SM 8

Sunbury-on-Thames (4 figure nos)

76.8

still

Sunbury-on-Thames (5 figure nos)

769

was

787

STReatham

Streatham

760

spare

South sector

772

now

249

SPArtan

Dalston

773

now

455

SPEedwell

Golders Green

774

now

722

PRImrose

St.Johns Wood

Primrose Hill

77.5

still

Potters Bar

776

now

0727 33

PR 6

Park Street

777

still

777

SPRingpark

West Wickham

Spring Park

778

was

793

SYDenham

Sydenham and Penge

779

still

779

RR9

Radlett

770

now

876

PROspect

Mortlake

South West sector

782

now

800

STAmford Hill

Stamford Hill

783

now

790

STEpney Green

Stepney Green

784

RU 4

Ruislip (4 figure nos)

785

now

799

SULlivan

Westminster

786

now

203

SUNnyhill

Hendon

787

now

769

STReatham

Streatham

788

still

788

PUTney

Putney

789

was

442

GIBbon

Putney

Edward Gibbon (Decline and Fall …) was born in Putney

780

now

958

STOnegrove

Edgware

Stonegrove (Watling Street)

Central sector

792

still

792

PX 2

Purfleet

793

now

778

SYDenham

Sydenham and Penge

794

still

794

SWIss Cottage

Hampstead

area served

79.5

still

Staines

796

still

796

s l

Automatic director testing

79.7

still

Rickmansworth (5 figure nos)

798

still

798

RX 8

Rainham (Essex, manual)

799

was

785

SULlivan

Westminster

790

was

783

STEpney Green

Stepney Green

Central sector

702

spare

703

still

703

RODney

Camberwell and Walworth

Rodney Road

70.4

still

Romford

705

now

764

POLlards

Norbury

Pollards Hill

70.6

still

Romford

707

now

892

POPesgrove

Twickenham

road called Popes Grove named after Alexander Pope

708

now

574

SOUthall

Southall

709

still

709

ROYal

City of London and Wapping

Royal Mint (building)

700

still

700

SO 0

South Ockendon

Name

Area served

Local justification for name

Central sector

822

still

822

TABard

Fleet Street

Tabard Inn (building)

823

still

823

TA 3

Tadworth

824

spare

825

now

554

VALentine

Ilford

Valentine Public House, 27 Perth Road

826

now

874

VANdyke

Wandsworth

827

spare

828

still

828

TATe Gallery

Victoria

Tate Gallery

829

still

829

TCY

Waterloo

Telephones CitY

829

was

853

g x

TLD

Waterloo

Telephones London District

820

still

820

UA 0

Upper Warlingham

Central sector

832

spare

833

now

977

TEDdington Lock

Teddington

834

was

842

VICtoria

Victoria

835

now

190

TEL

Inland telegrams and Enquiries

836

still

836

TEMple Bar

Covent Garden

Temple Bar (monument)

837

still

837

TERminus

Kings Cross

railway termini

838

spare

839

was

872

TRAfalgar

Whitehall

Trafalgar Square

830

still

830

TF O

Otford

West sector

842

now

834

VICtoria

Victoria

843

now

692

TIDeway

Deptford

Thames tideway

844

now

642

VIGilant

Sutton and Belmont

don’t know - see note

845

still

845

VIKing

Northolt and Yeading

Viking Primary School, Radcliffe Way

846

now

123

s u

TIM

Speaking Clock [TIMe]

847

now

349

VIRginia

Finchley

848

was

683

NUFfield

Hayes and Cranford

848

now

263

h l

VIVian

849

still

849

TH 9

Theydon Bois

840

now

684

THOrnton Heath

Thornton Heath

South East sector

852

was

533

LEE Green

Lewisham

area served

853

now

829

g x

TLD

Waterloo

Telephones London District

854

was

900

WOOlwich

Woolwich and Plumstead

855

was

758

PLUmstead

Woolwich and Plumstead

856

spare

857

was

547

KIPling

Mottingham and Grove Park

858

was

473

GREenwich

Greenwich

859

spare

850

was

358

ELTham

Eltham

North West sector

862

spare

863

still

863

UNDerhill

Harrow

under Harrow-on-the-Hill

864

was

206

CONcord

South Harrow

865

still

865

UM 5

Upminster (Essex)

866

was

746

PINner

Pinner and Eastcote

867

now

160

s u

UMP

Test Match score [UMPire]

868

was

343

FIEld End

Pinner and Eastcote

869

spare

860

spare

South West sector

872

now

839

TRAfalgar

Whitehall

Trafalgar Square

873

now

553

TREvelyan

Ilford

874

was

826

VANdyke

Wandsworth

875

now

660

UPLands

Purley and Kenley

high ground

876

was

770

PROspect

Mortlake

877

now

806

UPPer Clapton

Clapton

878

was

350

FLOral

Mortlake

878

now

290

TST

879

still

879

TSW

Wimbledon

Telephones South West

870

still

870

TROjan

Wandsworth

North sector

882

was

309

FOX Lane

Palmers Green

883

still

883

TUDor

Muswell Hill

884

spare

885

now

674

TULse Hill

Tulse Hill and Brixton Hill

886

was

725

PALmers Green

Palmers Green

887

now

995

TURnham Green

Chiswick

Turnham Green

888

was

209

BOWes Park

Wood Green

area served

889

was

685

MULberry

Wood Green

880

spare

West sector

892

was

707

POPesgrove

Twickenham

road called Popes Grove named after Alexander Pope

89.3

still

Uxbridge

894

still

894

TWIckenham Green

Twickenham

89.5

still

Uxbridge

896

still

896

s l

Automatic director testing

897

spare

898

spare

899

spare

890

was

335

FELtham

Feltham and East Bedfont

North sector

802

was

528

LATimer

Stamford Hill

803

spare

804

was

409

HOWard

Ponders End

805

spare

806

was

877

UPPer Clapton

Clapton

807

was

336

EDMonton

Edmonton

808

still

808

TOTtenham

Tottenham

809

now

693

TOWnley

Dulwich and Camberwell

Townley Road

800

was

782

STAmford Hill

Stamford Hill

Name

Area served

Local justification for name

Central sector

92.2

still

Watford

923

spare

92.4

still

Watford

925

now

647

WALlington (Surrey)

Wallington and Carshalton

926

now

989

WANstead

Wanstead

927

now

302

WARing Park

Sidcup

Waring Park

928

still

928

WATerloo

Waterloo

929

now

578

WAXlow

Greenford

Waxlow Crescent

920

spare

Central sector

932

now

246

s u

WEA

Weather

933

still

933

WE 3

West Drayton

934

spare

935

still

935

WELbeck

St Marylebone

Welbeck Street

936

now

902

WEMbley

Wembley

937

still

937

WEStern

Kensington

Western part of central London

938

spare

939

was

234

BE 4

Betchworth (Surrey)

930

was

944

WHItehall

Westminster

Whitehall

South West sector

942

was

625

MALden

New Malden

943

now

464

WIDmore

Bromley

Widmore Road

944

now

930

WHItehall

Westminster

Whitehall

945

now

459

WILlesden

Willesden

946

still

946

WIMbledon

Wimbledon

947

was

525

LAKeside

Wimbledon

Lake in Wimbledon Park

948

spare

949

was

200

COOmbe End

New Malden

area served

940

was

742

RIChmond (Surrey)

Richmond (Surrey)

North West sector

952

was

334

EDGware

Edgware

953

was

357

ELStree

Elstree

954

was

474

GRImsdyke

Stanmore

see note

95.5

still

Windsor

95.6

still

Windsor

957

spare

958

was

780

STOnegrove

Edgware

Stonegrove (Watling Street)

959

was

645

MILl Hill

Mill Hill

950

was

287

BUShey Heath

Bushey Heath

North West sector

96.2

still

Welwyn Garden

96.3

still

Welwyn Garden

964

still

964

XM 4

Colnbrook

965

was

354

ELGar

Harlesden

Elgar Avenue (off Mitchellbrook Way), NW10

966

spare

9679

still

9679

XN 79

Essendon

968

f* j

XM 8

Brasted

969

was

523

LADbroke

Kensal Green

Ladbroke Grove

960

was

582

j l

JUBilee

South West sector

972

spare

97.3

still

Waltham Cross

97.4

still

Weybridge

975

spare

976

spare

977

was

833

TEDdington Lock

Teddington

978

still

978

WS 8

Westerham

979

was

605

MOLesey

East Molesey and Hampton

970

still

970

XS O

Oxshott

East sector

98.2

still

Walton-on-Thames

983

still

983

WT 3

Wraysbury

98.4

still

Walton-on-Thames

985

was

264

AMHerst

Hackney

Amhurst Road

986

spare

987

was

327

EASt

Poplar

“East End” of London

988

still

988

XT 8

Oxted

989

was

926

WANstead

Wanstead

980

was

238

ADVance

Bow and Mile End

West sector

992

was

220

ACOrn

Acton

Acorn Gardens

993

spare

994

was

244

CHIswick

Chiswick

995

was

887

TURnham Green

Chiswick

Turnham Green

996

still

996

s l

Automatic director testing

997

was

737

PERivale

Perivale, Alperton and North Ealing

998

was

257

ALPerton

Perivale, Alperton and North Ealing

999

still

999

Emergency calls

990

spare

North West sector

902

was

936

WEMbley

Wembley

903

was

345

DILigence

Wembley

904

was

276

ARNold

North Wembley

905

still

905

WO 5

Woldingham (Surrey)

906

spare

907

still

907

WORdsworth

Kenton

908

was

378

DRUmmond

North Wembley

909

spare

900

now

854

WOOlwich

Woolwich and Plumstead

Name

Area served

Local justification for name

0372 86

still

0372 86

Headley (Surrey, automatic)

0727 33

was

776

PR 6

Park Street

0883 87

was

0093 87

f0 b

Bletchingley (automatic)

0883 84

was

0093 87

f0 b

Godstone (automatic)

0959 7

still

0959 7

0WK 97

Badgers Mount

0959 8

still

0959 8

0WK 98

Tatsfield

0093 87

now

0883 87

f0 b

Bletchingley (automatic)

0093 87

now

0883 84

f0 b

Godstone (automatic)

Number of codes listed = 424

Relist in exchange name order
Dialling code booklet 1964 | Dialling code booklet 1968 | Phone pages index

			Counts

	count	%	codes within the 2–9 first digit range
	103	16	director exchanges retaining their original code
	165	25	new director exchange codes
	190	29	old director exchange codes - see note
	93	14	director fringe codes
	12	2	services - within the 2–9 first digit range
	85	13	spare codes

	648	100	total

	648	=	8 × 9 × 9 - digit 1 is not used in any code and digit 0 is not used on the first digit

Why the 'old' count is greater than the 'new' count: 246 replacing ASK (275) and WEAther (932) is included in the services count 432 replacing LPR (577) is a duplicate of HEAdquarters (432) which is included in the 'retaining their original code' count 829 replacing TLD (853) is a duplicate of TCY (829) similarly GYPsy (497) was duplicate code for GIPsy Hill (447) TIM - Speaking Clock (846) → 123 outside the range of these counts UMP[ire] - Test Match score (867) → 154 similarly no idea what or even whether EDWard (339) and LAGoon (524) had new codes


				Sources

			The basis of this list is the booklet: "Dialling codes and call charges London 1964 51-9469" (LDCB64)
			The booklet: "Dialling Instructions and Call charges London 1968" Dd. 35/438939 1/68 (LDCB68) has also been examined and differences between it and LDCB64 are noted.
			Entries in the 'Area served' column are from telephone directories of the period.

			Also on show is a London Call Office Notice "CO7 DIR LON Issue 5 Wt. F76303 15m 9/63 Ed (317) Frame No. 29" (LCON63). ++++ incomplete
			Sam Hallas’ list with extensive annotation.
			Also on Sam Hallas’ site: this list (marked at the bottom "Retirement Homes for ex-Police Officers" !). Possibly early 1970s - includes some DDi codes, eg. "906 J. Laing Ltd & Mill Hill.
			This 1982 list includes an interesting map of the Director and finge areas.

				Notes

		§	"Some subscribers on these exchanges were given a new telephone number or had their exchange name replaced by figures other than those shown above when they were given their all-figure number." LDCB68

		d	DREadnought and FREmantle both map on to 373. Both names were published - why? Likewise DUKe and FULham.

		g	DDI to GPO PABX's. LPR mapped on to HEAdquarters and TLD mapped on to TCY.

		h	Seen in an Hitchin list of 1966 - not in LDCB68. Note that the codes for GLObe, ISMay and VIVian were re-used for new codes so clearly these exchanges closed before 1966. Each exchange appears twice in this list: first under new code which is blank and then under old code.

		m	In LDCB68 FRAnklin and WALlington (FRA and WAL in caps but not bold) are listed in the Local Calls section (ie. codes for adjacent non-director exchanges) rather than in the Director section. But there is no asterisk against each name, indicating that the exchange has already been automated. This is probably because it was the last manual exchange in London. Images.

		v	LAGoon and EDWard - information from Vauxhall Victor not in LDCB68.

		s	Services

		u	Recorded Information Services - see this write-up.

		x	LXD and TLD are not listed in LDCB68 but have been seen elsewhere.

670	447		GIPsy Hill	Both GIP (447) and GYP (497) were routed to Gipsy Hill for the benefit of bad spellers! Information from Tony Scott ex Director exchange engineer.
670	497		GYPsy

954	474		GRImsdyke	When the GPO named this exchange they were probably thinking of Grim's Dyke the house and estate on Oxhey Lane, Harrow Weald which is best remembered as being the house where W. S. Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan lived and died. But the house is in turn named after Grim's Ditch, a Romano-British earthwork which runs near the house.

686	686		MUNicipal	The main phone number for the London Borough of Croydon offices was MUNicipal 4433. But this doesn't really justify the choice of exchange name. This number (after various mutations to 020 8686 4433) still works and is widely publicised. But the council's own website now gives this page with a lot of DDI numbers.

			Exchange names had quite a wide influence: One or two of the 'Area served' entries are affected. For example, if LORds exchange had been called something different, the GPO would have described the area served as 'Maida Vale and St. John's Wood'. The cricket ground has not really given its name to the area. Non-geographic exchange names - such as GALleon and GULliver - often gave their names to local shops. A quick directory enquiry on half a dozen exchange names in 1999 threw up just one example: The Vigilant Off-Licence, 6 Regent Parade, Sutton - still with a phone number on Vigilant exchange. Some of the things I have put down as justification for name may in fact be derivations from the exchange name. I suspect that Elgar Avenue was built after Elgar exchange got its name and that the exchange may in fact have had an influence on the name of the Avenue.

		f	Director fringe - exchanges outside the London charge group but accessible at local call rate from London

		f5	Director fringe exchanges with 5 digit subscribers’ numbers. For example, the published code for Caterham was 22. We know from other sources (or by elimination) that subscribers’ numbers in Caterham began with 4.

		f3	Director fringe exchanges with 3 digit subscribers’ numbers.

		f*	"For a starred exchange* dial the code only and ask the operator for the exchange and number that you want." LDCB68 Where the code is not 100, these are manual exchanges and the code took you directly to the operators of that exchange. For the others, I believe that Chalvey Park and Iver Heath were temporary automatic exchanges (green vans parked outside the exchange) serving Iver. The London operators had access directly to these bypassing the Iver operators. I am not sure what the story is for Bayford and North Weald.

		f0	Published local code is the STD code. Smallish exchanges where it was not practicable to create a direct route from everywhere. Eg. for a north London exchange to reach Bletchingley, south of London would have required more routing digits than the director could handle.

Comments, corrections and suggestions to fill in the blanks in the 'Local justification for name' column will be gratefully received by: Phreak@RHaworth.net

Relist in exchange name order
Dialling code booklet 1964 | Dialling code booklet 1968 | Phone pages index

Roger W. Haworth

2022 Dec -	Add stuff from 1964 DCB
2022 Dec 02 -	Codes seen on Hitchin list added
2021 May 07 -	GYPsy added. Count discrepancies resolved
2018 Jan 07 -	Director fringe annotation
2017 Jun 19 -	Use SQL at last
2005 Aug 02
1999 Dec 08 -	First version

&dupt - check for duplicates

php file date: 2023 Jan 07 12:27:19