Telephone kiosk

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

K6 telephone kiosk located with its back to the road on E side of Greenanlough Road. Standard cast iron construction on a concrete plinth. Shallow domed roof with Crown fascia and ‘TELEPHONE’ in serif font (red letters on white), on three of the four sides, the fourth (S face) has ‘TELEPHONE’ in modern font (yellow letters on a black). Multi-paned glazed cheeks and door with plain back panel to road (W face).

Historical information

Around 45, 000 of these kiosks were installed in Britain from the mid 1950s. This particular type is a slight variation of the standard K6 ‘Jubilee kiosk which was introduced in 1936, and was itself a variant on the Giles Gilbert Scott K2 kiosk. This variant which dated from 1955 has a slot fascia at top to accommodate one of two royal crowns. Following the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 two different crowns were cast. In recognition of the fact that the new Monarch was also Queen Elizabeth I of Scotland. One represented St. Edward's Crown for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the other the Queen’s Crown of Scotland.

The last of these kiosks were installed in 1967. After this time the more modern K8 began to appear. The original K6 livery was Post Office red (BS381C-red538), but following the installation of the K8s, all kiosks were painted Poppy red (BS381C-red539).

Primary Source:
1. N. Johannessen, ‘Telephone Boxes’ (Princes Risborough 1994).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An interesting structure, typical of many thousands erected around the United Kingdom.