The following is a list of the first 125 Whitstable telephone numbers and their owners. It is easy to see how the commercial sector was quick to take up this advance in technology, but as interesting are the private individuals who are included.
To have a telephone was obviously a sign of the more affluent residents. Some numbers have not been traced. This may be because their original owners were no longer connected, or perhaps ex-directory rules applied even then.
If you do trace any of the missing number’s details then send them in so that this listing can be completed.
| Early Whitstable Telephone Numbers up to 125. | ||
| Number | Name | Address |
| 1 | ||
| 2 | Seath, A., Timber Merchant | Hilderic, Downs Avenue |
| 3 | Seasalter & Ham Oyster Fishery Co. Ltd. | The Harbour |
| 4 | Gann & Brown, Coal Factors | Tankerton Road |
| 5 | Shingleston, A. G., Ironmonger & Builder | 11 Harbour Street |
| 6 | Police Station | Bexley Street |
| 7 | Sister Charity, Villa St. Raphael | |
| 8 | Clarke, Clement, Opthalmic Optician | 12 High Street |
| 9 | ||
| 10 | Piper, F. Paris, M.B. Lond. | King’s Leigh, Northwood Road |
| 11 | Tankerton House Agency | P.O. Tankerton |
| 12 | Bisson, George W., Dairyman | Brookland Dairy, 76 Oxford Street |
| 13 | Whitstable Gas and Coke Co. Ltd. | 22 High Street |
| 14 | Whitstable Post Office, Telephone Exchange | |
| 15 | Nichols, F. | Burnham, Canterbury Road |
| 16 | Ridout’s, Stationers, Printers, Newsagents | 36 harbour Street |
| 17 | Wastall, E. – Wine, Spirit Merchant | 34 High Street |
| 18 | East Kent Hotel | Whitstable |
| 19 | Tabor, George Ltd., Oyster, Fish Merchant | 12 Wavecrest |
| 20 | Whitstable Hoy Transport Co. (London and East Kent) | The Wharf |
| 21 | Davis, William, Physician | 29 West Cliff |
| 22 | Whitstable Oyster Fishery Co. | Horsebridge Road |
| 23 | Lang, R. T. | The Limes, Canterbury Road |
| 24 | Tankerton Hotel | Tankerton |
| 25 | Bear & Key Hotel (County Hotels Ltd) | High Street |
| 26 | Ilderton, Colin, Medical Practitioner | 59 Oxford Street |
| 27 | Prince of Wales (PH) | High Street |
| 28 | Wright, D.F. | Graystones |
| 29 | Browning, T. & Sons Ltd., Coal Factors, Carriers | Canterbury Road |
| 30 | Tilley, A. & Co., Grocers, Provision Merchants | 30 Sydenham Street |
| 31 | Duke of Cumberland Hotel | Whitstable |
| 32 | Solly, E., Builder, Decorator, Undertaker | Cromwell Road North |
| 33 | Allen, W. B., Butcher | 41 Harbour Street |
| 34 | Seasalter Vicarage | |
| 35 | Reed, Percy, Taxis | The Railway Inn |
| 36 | Daniels, A. W. | Glenthorne, Tankerton Road |
| 37 | Back, C. A., Fishmonger & Poulterer | 63 Harbour Street |
| 38 | Reeves, Geo., Builder, Timber Merchant | 15 High Street |
| 39 | Co-operative Society Ltd, General Merchants | 39 Oxford Street |
| 40 | Surman, H. G., Family Butcher | 59 High Street |
| 41 | Foreman, J. B., Job Master | 3 Tankerton Terrace |
| 42 | Baker & Co., Grocers & Provision Merchants | 41 Canterbury Road |
| 43 | Edmonson, P. G., Chemist | 32 Harbour Street |
| 44 | Etheridge, C. E., M.B.Lond. | Norfolk Bungalow |
| 45 | Carson, Frank Murray | Grimshill, Borstall Hill |
| 46 | Rigden, T., Corn Chandler, Job Master | 23 High Street |
| 47 | Prince Albert (PH) | Sea Street |
| 48 | Morris, A. | Kingsdown Park |
| 49 | Whitstable Urban District Council | 35 Oxford Street (Clerk – J.F.Whichcord) |
| 50 | ||
| 51 | Whitstable Yacht Club | Sea Wall |
| 52 | Piper, Witney & Ilderton, Physicians & Surgeons | Cromwell House Surgery |
| 53 | Reeves, Geo., Farmer | Chesttfield Manor |
| 54 | Wilman Harold Ltd. Complete House Furnishers | 107 High Street |
| 55 | Collar, Arthur Ltd., Ironmongers & Builders Merchants | 35 High Street |
| 56 | Irving, Captain L. H. | The Mill |
| 57 | Pye, Frank Ltd., Ironmongers, Builders Merchants | 17 High Street |
| 58 | Anderson & Co., Coal Factors | High Street |
| 59 | Goodwin, Chas., Farmer | Cranmore, Queens Road |
| 60 | ||
| 61 | Nicholls, Frank, Shipowner & Ironmonger | 5 Harbour Street |
| 62 | Carnegie, Robert B. | Highfield, Seasalter |
| 63 | Thompson, Lt. Commander D.S.E. | Dawn, Seasalter |
| 64 | Wingent, Frederick | 4 Queens Road, Tankerton |
| 65 | Hill, Babington | Warden House |
| 66 | Couper, F. T., Chemist & Optician | 115 High Street |
| 67 | Boulting, Arthur (Taxi & Garage) | High Street garage |
| 68 | Whitstable Motor Works – General Motor Engineers | 14 Canterbury Road |
| 69 | Reeves, J. T. & Son, Auctioneers, Estate Agents | 44 High Street |
| 70 | Platt, John Crawford | Summerfield, Church Street |
| 71 | Daniels Bros. (Whitstable) Ltd., Barge Owners | Whitstable |
| 72 | Marine Hotel | Tankerton |
| 73 | Roots, J., Job Master | 21 Canterbury Road |
| 74 | Eyers, F. G., Wholesale, General Warehouseman | 92 Harbour Street |
| 75 | Solly, A., Shipbroker, Stevedore, Agent | 7 High Street |
| 76 | Kemp, John, Building Contractor | Albert Street |
| 77 | Reeves, Stanley Ltd., Builders | Warwick Road |
| 78 | ||
| 79 | Woods Motor Works – Marine Motor Engineers | Horsebridge |
| 80 | Carnegie, Colonel David, O.B.E. | The Haven, Seasalter |
| 81 | Macaulay, The Misses, Springfield Nursing Home | Canterbury Road |
| 82 | Mallandain, A. E. | Tankerton Tower |
| 83 | The Old Vicarage | Canterbury Road |
| 84 | Daly, H. L. & Son, Grocers, Provision Merchants | 87 High Street |
| 85 | Woodman, Ralph | Harrold House, Cromwell road |
| 86 | Day’s Garage (Geo. Willett), Taxis | 10 Oxford Street |
| 87 | Downs-Butcher, C. | Graystone |
| 88 | Bartlett, Charles, Dairy Farmer | Manor Farm |
| 89 | Kempton, C. W., Valuer, Transfer Agent | Assembly Rooms |
| 90 | ||
| 91 | Hudson, Frederick, Estate Agent | Station Approach |
| 92 | ||
| 93 | Steam Packet Inn | Whitstable |
| 94 | Witney, E. W., M.B., B.S.Lond. | Wilton Lodge, Tankerton Road |
| 95 | Reeves, Hubert, Confectionary, Tea Rooms | 29 Harbour Street |
| 96 | Gregory, L. J., Family Butcher | 54 Harbour Street |
| 97 | Brooks, W. T., Solicitor | 4 Tower Parade |
| 98 | Moll, Herbert | Minoru, Joy Lane |
| 99 | Court, R., Fishmonger, Oyster Merchant | 66 Oxford Street |
| 100 | Sandy & Wiles Ltd., Haulage Contractors | 74 Harbour Street |
| 101 | Drake, William | Eversleigh, Marine Parade |
| 102 | Vye & Son (Grocery and Provisions) | 34 Harbour Street |
| 103 | Greensted & Son, Family Butchers | 38 High Street |
| 104 | Whitstable Electric Supply Co. Ltd., The | 94 High Street |
| 105 | Perks, Sam, The Property Salesman | 75 High Street |
| 106 | Logan, Mrs. A. L., Board Residence | The Red Gables, Tankerton |
| 107 | Westminster Bank Ltd | High Street |
| 108 | ||
| 109 | Canterbury Road Post Office | Canterbury Road |
| 110 | Perks, Sam | Rhodesia |
| 111 | Fisk-Moore, B. & W., High-class Photographers | 93 High Street |
| 112 | Spray, E. C., Electrical Engineer | 59 Harbour Street |
| 113 | St Johns Convalescent Home | |
| 114 | Tooley’s Stores, Wine, Spirit Merchants | 5 High Street |
| 115 | Hartley & Briggs, The Misses | The Nore, Sea Wall |
| 116 | Gann, Fred S., Builder & Undertaker | 63 Oxford Street |
| 117 | International Tea Co’s Stores Ltd., Grocers, Provisions | 42 High Street |
| 118 | Clapham Hill Poultry Farm | Whitstable |
| 119 | ||
| 120 | Theobald, C. P., Butcher | 99 High Street |
| 121 | Couchman, H., Fruiterer & Grocer | 31 High Street |
| 122 | Nash, A. J. Grocer, Wine Merchant | 56 High Street |
| 123 | Knowles, Charles, Fruit, Potato Merchant | 39 High Street |
| 124 | Cremer, F | St. Anns Road |
| 125 | Scamell, M. V. Motor Engineer | Bridge Garage, Church street |
Footnote.
The current telephone numbers for Theobald’s, the East Kent, and the Marine Hotel still end in the number(s) shown above. In latter years when the numbers were at a four digit level they increased by two digits with the inclusion of 26 or 27 at the start and were joined into the Canterbury STD area of 01227. More recently with the addition of more exchange lines 77 and 88 have also been used.
Chestfield and Swalecliffe share a separate exchange, included under Whitstable, but starting with 79.
