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, W, S) and incorporating a solid panel to the fourth elevation (N). The Clare 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 adjacent to the carriageway edge, directly opposite a cluster of buildings, and occupies a prominent location along the Clare Rd. The glazing is a mix of glass and Perspex. The kiosk is well intact, with both leather hinge straps and high-level signage.

Historical information

A ‘TCB’ or telephone call box, along with a small square denoting the footprint of the same, is marked on this site on the OS map of 1954. The precise date of installation is not known, but the fact that the kiosk is located close to what for many years was the local post office, suggests that it dates from sometime between 1936 and 1949 (see General information below). It is possible that the present kiosk replaced an earlier one, for a ‘telephone call office’, (a phrase that during the early 20th century frequently denoted kiosks), is noted as having been established at the same time as the post office in November 1934. If so, then the original kiosk must have been one of the ‘K3’ models in use between 1929-35, whose relatively fragile concrete construction resulted in virtually all eventually being replaced.

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, County series, Armagh sheet 17 – 1906, 1955; IG sheet 219-15 – 1977
2 ‘Portadown Times’ – 1 December 1933, p.5; 9 November 1934, p.6
3 ‘Armagh Guardian’ – 2 January 1934, p.2; 16th November 1934, p.2

Secondary Sources
4 N. Johannessen, ‘Telephone Boxes’ Shire Publications (Princes Risborough, 2010)
5 Linge, Nigel and Sutton, Andy, ‘The British phonebox’, (Amberley Publishing, 2017)
6 The Telephone Box - http://www.the-telephone-box.co.uk/ (accessed 17 November 2025)
7 GPO - KIOSK No. 6 (K6) - https://www.britishtelephones.com/k6.htm (accessed 17 November 2025)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
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 a 1936 to 1953 K6 model, as indicated by the presence of a moulded Tudor crown cypher, it is structurally sound and well maintained. It is in a prominent location along the Clare Rd 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.