17 & 19 Newhall Street, Birmingham

Located in the heart of Birmingham, at the intersection of Newhall Street and Edmund Street, the building at 17 & 19 Newhall Street stands as a significant architectural and historical landmark. Known as "The Exchange" and formerly referred to as the "Bell Edison Telephone Building," this Grade I listed structure is renowned for its distinctive red brick and architectural terracotta facade.

Designed by Frederick Martin of Martin & Chamberlain, the building was inaugurated in 1887 to accommodate the Central Telephone Exchange along with offices for the National Telephone Company (NTC). At the time, with 5,000 subscribers, it was the largest telephone exchange in the country. The building originally bore the postal address of 19 Newhall Street and was internally known within the NTC as "Telephone Buildings." The wrought iron gates at the main entrance proudly display the NTC logo, featuring the names of innovators Bell and Edison, highlighting its origins in the telecommunications industry.

In 1912, the Postmaster General took over the NTC, transferring the building to the General Post Office (GPO). Over the years, it served as a TAS exchange, the Birmingham office for the Post Office Engineering Union, and the Midland headquarters for the air raid warning system during World War I. In 1936, telephone exchange operations were moved to Telephone House, making space for various tenants in the subsequent decades.

Today, 17 & 19 Newhall Street is a vibrant hub for businesses, including Core Marketing, Mitchell Adam, and GBR Phoenix Beard, reflecting its ongoing relevance in modern commerce. The basement, with an entrance on Edmund Street, is home to the bar Bushwackers, adding a recreational aspect to this historic building's contemporary use.