Telephone Kiosk

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The mid 20th century telephone kiosk sits prominently along the road edge of 23 Main Street, Brookeborough, opposite a Grade B2 listed house (HB12/04/048). The kiosk is of cast-iron construction standing on a concrete base with a domical roof. Aligned centrally to the top of each elevation is a Tudor Crown insignia in bas relief and directly beneath is a signage displaying ‘Telephone’ in black serif font and white background. The margined 1x8 paned window is made up of mostly perspex with some missing panes.

Roof: Cast-iron
RWG: None
Walling: Cast-iron, painted red
Windows: Single pane with glazing bars

Historical information

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 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, though some K6s do seem to have installed - or perhaps moved from elsewhere - after this date.

Kiosk near 23 Main St, Brookeborough - A ‘TCB’ or telephone call box is marked on this site on the OS map of 1958. The kiosk itself is of the ‘Tudor’ crown variety suggesting it was installed here sometime after 1936, but before 1953.

References – Primary sources
1 OS map sheet 231-2 – 1958

Secondary Sources
2 N. Johannessen, ‘Telephone Boxes’ Shire Publications (Princes Risborough, 1994)
3 The Telephone Box - http://www.the-telephone-box.co.uk/ (accessed 18 November 2024)
4 GPO - KIOSK No. 6 (K6) (www.britishtelephones.com) (accessed 18 November 2024)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

The kiosk is a pre-1953 K6 model designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 as indicated through its Tudor Crown insignia. It has remained in its original location at 23 Main Street, Brookeborough, largely intact and sits prominently in its setting opposite a Grade B2 listed house (HB12/04/048). The kiosk had an important role to the social and cultural development of the local area having been the only means of communication to further locations. This iconic piece of street furniture was once common but has become increasingly rare due to modern mobile phone use. The kiosk has retained key features and characteristics such as the domed roof, Tudor crown insignia and 'Telephone' signage which are still well intact.

During its lifetime, the kiosk has adapted to keep pace with changes in society and technology, illustrating changing values and revealing the effects of change over time. These include upgrading of equipment and vandal-proofing measures, necessary adjustments/adaptions that do not compromise the building’s overall significance.

General comments

Possible replacement door handle and large proportion of windows replaced with perspex. It was agreed these changes were appropriate and did not damage the buildings architectural and historical worth.