Telephone Kiosk

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A square-plan, freestanding 1937-53 era K6 telephone kiosk of cast iron construction, painted red with glazing to three of the elevations and a solid panel to the fourth (S), built to Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's standardised design of 1935. The kiosk sits next to 101 Church Hill Road, Church Hill, Fermanagh, set back from the road and above the pavement level on an elevated plinth. The kiosk retains an unusually large proportion of glass, greater than 75%, though a pane is missing from the W elevation. The door handle is an original-design replacement, and the signage 'TELEPHONE' is faded on the S & W elevations.

Roof: Cast-iron
RWG: None
Walling: Cast-iron, painted
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 101 Church Hill Rd - A ‘TCB’ or telephone call box is marked on this site on the OS map of 1965-66, next to what was at that time the local Post Office (reputedly the site of a post office since the later 1700s.) The kiosk itself is of the ‘Tudor’ crown variety suggesting it was installed here sometime after 1936, but before 1953.

References – Primary sources
1 ‘Londonderry Sentinel’ – 10 April 1909, p.8
2 OS map sheet 172-14 – 1965-66
3 ‘Belfast News-Letter’ – 24 January 1966, p.3

Secondary sources
4 N. Johannessen, ‘Telephone Boxes’ Shire Publications (Princes Risborough, 1994)
5 The Telephone Box - http://www.the-telephone-box.co.uk/ (accessed 18 November 2024)
6 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
Z. Rarity
S. Authenticity
V. Authorship
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A telephone kiosk designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, it is a pre-1953 K6-model, as indicated by the Tudor Crown cypher. This iconic piece of street furniture was once common but now almost entirely replaced by modern mobile phone use. During its lifetime, the kiosk has adapted to keep pace with changes in society and technology, these include upgrading of equipment and vandal-proofing measures. This process contributes to the buildings significance by illustrating changing values and reveals the effects of change over time. The kiosk retains an exceptionally high proportion of glass, less than 25% of glass replaced with Perspex. The kiosk makes an important contribution to the historic setting of the village, despite being now largely obscured from view from the southern end of the village by the extension towards the street of number 101 Church Hill Road.

General comments

Telephone equipment removed. Replacement fluorescent light. Possible replacement handle, though of original design.
Some of the original glass has been replaced with Perspex - Less than 25%. It was agreed these changes were appropriate and did not damage the buildings architectural and historical worth.