Summary

K6 telephone box, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 for the General Post Office, located approximately 42 metres north-east of Bridge Cottage (NHLE 1229264).

Description

The K6 is a standardised design made of cast-iron, painted red overall with long horizontal glazing in the door and sides and with the crowns situated on the top panels being applied not perforated. There are rectangular white display signs, reading TELEPHONE beneath the shallow-curved roof. The internal equipment is modernised. The kiosk's display signs above the doors are clearly visible, although faded and discoloured, and the paint is flaking across the kiosk. It retains glass windows.

The telephone kiosk occupies a prominent position on Elkington Lane. It is located approximately 42 metres north east of Bridge Cottage (NHLE 1229264, listed Grade II) and 105 metres east of the Old Orphanage (NHLE 1229678, listed Grade II), and it is surrounded by the scheduled site of Winwick Medieval Settlement (NHLE 1418336) which is defined by two areas of protection.

Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 it is declared that the modern telecommunications equipment within the K6 is not of special architectural or historic interest.

History

The K6 telephone kiosk is a milestone of C20 industrial design. The K6 was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 for the General Post Office, on the occasion of King George V's Silver Jubilee. The K6 was a development from his earlier highly successful K2 telephone kiosk design of 1924, of Neo-classical inspiration. The K6 was more streamlined aesthetically, more compact and more cost-effective to mass produce. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960) was one of the most important of modern British architects; his many celebrated commissions include the Anglican cathedral of Liverpool and Battersea power station. The K2 and K6 telephone kiosks can be said to represent a very thoughtful adaptation of architectural tradition to contemporary technological requirements. Well over 70,000 K6s were eventually produced. In the 1960s many were replaced with a new kiosk type. But many still remain, and continue to be an iconic feature on Britain's streetscapes.

Reasons for Listing

The K6 telephone kiosk, Elkington Lane, Winwick is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Design/aesthetic Interest: the K6 is an iconic C20 industrial design by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott;

* Setting: on account of being surrounded by the Medieval Settlement of Winick;

* Strong visual relationship: on account of the strong visual relationship with the Grade II listed Bridge Cottage;

* Group value: on account of its proximity to two listed buildings, Bridge Cottage and the Old Orphanage.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478385

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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