Telephone Kiosk

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

External Description
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 (W), built to Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's standardised design of 1935. The kiosk is in Lack, Fermanagh, on the pavement in front of the former post office. It is in working order and a decent state of repair, though the lower leather door strap is missing, the handle is a non-original-design replacement, and the signage 'TELEPHONE' is faded on the SE elevation. The kiosk retains a large proportion of glass for a non-rural
setting, more than half.

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 9 Main St, Lack - A ‘TCB’ or telephone call box is marked on this site on the OS map of 1965. A report in the ‘Northern Whig’ of 27 August 1951 states that ‘the Post Office was prepared to erect a kiosk outside Lack Post Office in County Fermanagh’. This suggests that the kiosk we see today, (which is a ‘Tudor’ crown pre-1953 version of the K6), is likely to have been installed here c.1951-53.

References – Primary sources
1 ‘Northern Whig’ – 27 August 1951, p.3
2 OS map sheet 155-1 – 1965

Secondary Sources
3 N. Johannessen, ‘Telephone Boxes’ Shire Publications (Princes Risborough, 1994)
4 The Telephone Box - http://www.the-telephone-box.co.uk/ (accessed 18 November 2024)
5 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
I. Quality and survival of Interior
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 fully structurally intact telephone kiosk designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott is a pre-1953 K6 model, as indicated by the Tudor Crown cypher. 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. This iconic piece of street furniture, once common but almost entirely replaced by modern mobile phone use, makes an essential and attractive contribution to the village's historic character. It is a rare working example and retains an unusually high proportion of glass for a non-rural setting.

General comments

Replacement fluorescent light and door handle. Modern telephone equipment. It was agreed these changes were appropriate and did not damage the buildings architectural and historical worth.