17 & 19 Newhall Street, Birmingham

Although the official name of this red brick and terracotta edifice is 17 & 19 Newhall Street, it is popularly known as The Exchange. Commissioned in 1887, the structure was designed by Frederick Martin of the Martin & Chamberlain architectural firm, and was built to accommodate the then new Central Telephone Exchange and offices for the National Telephone Company (NTC).

Originally having the postal address of 19 Newhall Street, it was colloquially referred to as "Telephone Buildings" within the NTC organisation, but outside it went by the name "Bell Edison Telephone Building" – the NTC logo behind the wrought iron gates to the main entrance bears the names of Bell and Edison.

In 1912, the NTC was taken over by the Postmaster General and ownership of the building transferred to the GPO. During World War I, it was used as the Midland headquarters of the air raid warning system.

In 1936, the Central Telephone Exchange vacated the address and relocated to new premises (Telephone House) further down Newhall Street. Today, 17 & 19 Newhall Street is a listed historic property.