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 (N, E, S) and incorporating a solid panel to the fourth elevation (W). The Moycraig Road kiosk bears a St Edward’s crown symbol and has a slotted design, this dates the kiosk to having been installed between 1955 and 1965, the K6 design was discontinued in 1968.

The kiosk is located along the Moycraig Road in a rural location and is located in a small lay-by adjacent to the junction with the Ballyoglagh Road. The location is prominent along Moycraig Road. The glazing is predominantly Perspex.The kiosk is in reasonable condition apart from some damage to the bottom of the door and a loose lower leather hinge strap. The upper-level signage is in good condition.

Historical information

The fact that the crown motif above the ‘telephone’ sign is set within a square slot, indicates that this kiosk was manufactured post-1955 (see General information below) and is therefore likely to have been installed here sometime after that date but before 1968. Due to the lack of available documentary evidence, however, it is difficult to be more precise than this. The structure is marked - as a telephone call box - on the OS map of 1971.

This particular 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 such as telephone kiosks. 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 7-15 – 1971

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 5 October 2025)
5 GPO - KIOSK No. 6 (K6) - https://www.britishtelephones.com/k6.htm (accessed 5 October 2025)
6 ‘Grace’s guide to British industrial history’ - https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Carron_Co(accessed 5 October 2025)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
V. Authorship
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

This structurally intact telephone kiosk designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott is likely to be a 1955 to 1965 K6 model, as indicated by the presence of the St Edward’s crown and slotted design to the pediment. It is located in a prominent location along the Moycraig Road and adds to the distinctiveness of the setting. This iconic piece of street furniture, once common but almost entirely replaced by modern mobile phone use, is now increasingly rare.