Summary

K6 telephone kiosk.

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. It has modernised internal equipment. The telephone kiosk’s display signs above the door have not faded, although the red paint is flaking in some places and two of the glass panes are broken.

The K6 is situated at the centre of the village of Coton and occupies a prominent position on the main road, next to the village post box. It is surrounded by three listed buildings: Coton Manor, Spinney Cottage, and Merrie End, all of which are listed at Grade II. The telephone kiosk has a strong visual relationship with these three listed buildings collectively.

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 in Coton is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Design: it is an iconic C20 industrial design by Giles Gilbert Scott;

* Group value: it has a strong visual relationship with three Grade II listed buildings: Coton Manor, Spinney Cottage, and Merrie End.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66480512

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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