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 Battlehill Rd kiosk bears the Tudor Crown, which dates manufacture to between 1936 and 1953, the K6 design was discontinued in 1968.

The kiosk is located approx. 15m from the adjacent carriageway edge and sits to the front of commercial premises adjacent to 53 Battlehill Rd. It is noted the kiosk has been moved from its original position

Historical information

Minor aspects of the design indicate that this kiosk dates from sometime between 1936 and c.1953, with the fact that it was originally next to the local post office suggesting it is pre-1949. Map evidence shows that the relatively recent redevelopment of adjacent buildings has resulted in the relocation of the structure several metres westwards.

The kiosk itself was manufactured by the Lion Foundry of Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, a firm established in 1880 as ‘Jackson, Brown, Huson and Cuthbert’, adopting the Lion name in 1885. The company was largely involved in architectural ironwork during its early decades but branched into the production of street furniture in the 1950s, becoming the main supplier of pillar boxes shortly before its closure in 1984.

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 200-6 – 1953, 1965, 1982

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/Lion_Foundry (accessed 12 January 2026)

Evaluation

A K6 telephone kiosk designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott installed between 1936 and 1953. It has been moved from its original location. As such the kiosk cannot be considered for listing and is an RO.