K6 Telephone Kiosk

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A freestanding type K6 telephone kiosk constructed to Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's standardised design of 1935. Cast iron construction painted red with glazing to three elevations (E, S, W) and incorporating a solid panel to the fourth elevation (N). The Seacoast Road kiosk bears the St Edward’s Crown within a slot, which dates manufacture to between 1955 and 1965, the K6 design was discontinued in 1968.

The kiosk is located approx. 4m from the adjacent carriageway edge and sits to the front of 148 Seacoast Rd. The glazing is a mix of glass and Perspex, The Kiosk has suffered structural damage to the lower part of the wooden door, it is also noted its lower leather door strap is broken.

Historical information

This 'K6' kiosk is a variant of the model that was in use between c.1955 and c.1968 (see below). It is shown at this location on the OS map of 1972.

The kiosk was manufactured by the Carron Company, of Carron, Falkirk, the noted iron foundry established in 1759, that by 1814 had become the largest of its kind in Europe. Initially producing mainly armaments and steam engines, the firm subsequently diversified to include the manufacture of domestic products such as stoves, and street furniture. Latterly know as Carron Phoenix, the company was sold to its present owners in 1990.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON K6 KIOSKS The K6 model was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. Constructed in cast-iron with a teak door, compact in size and easily mass-produced, the design of the K6 was developed from Scott’s previous telephone kiosk models, the larger K2 (introduced in 1926) and K3 (1929). It was distributed throughout the UK from 1936 and represents the most successful and populous type of kiosk to be introduced with some 60,000 being placed around the country. About 8,000 of these were installed as part of the 'Jubilee Concession', which allowed towns and villages with a post office to apply for a kiosk. A year later, under the 'Tercentenary Concession' celebrating the Post Office's 300th anniversary, a further 1,000 kiosks were installed over 12 years for local authorities willing to pay a five-year subscription of £4. After 1949 this was succeeded by the ‘Rural Allocation scheme’, under which kiosks were placed in out-of-town areas upon the recommendation of a rural authority.

A minor alteration in the K6 design occurred following the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, when the ‘Tudor’ crown motif was replaced with the St. Edward’s crown. From 1955 the Crown of Scotland was used for kiosks in that country, a slot in the fascia allowing either version to be inserted into all of those manufactured from this date. The model continued in production until 1968 when the more modernist K8, designed by Bruce Martin, was introduced.

References – Primary sources
1 OS map, IG sheet 19-09 – 1972

Secondary Sources
2 N. Johannessen, ‘Telephone Boxes’ Shire Publications (Princes Risborough, 2010)
3 Linge, Nigel and Sutton, Andy, ‘The British phonebox’, (Amberley Publishing, 2017)
4 The Telephone Box - http://www.the-telephone-box.co.uk/ (accessed 12 January 2026)
5 GPO - KIOSK No. 6 (K6) - https://www.britishtelephones.com/k6.htm (accessed 12 January 2026)
6 ‘Grace’s guide to British industrial history’ - https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Carron_Co(accessed 12 January 2026)

Evaluation

A K6 telephone kiosk designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott installed between 1953 and 1965. The interior has been greatly altered, the lower leather door strap is broken.and the kiosk has suffered structural damage. As such, the kiosk is of insufficent special architectural or historic interest to consider it suitable for listing.