K6 Telephone Kiosk, Adjacent to Garden Railings

K6 TELEPHONE KIOSK, ADJACENT TO GARDEN RAILINGS, BLOOMSBURY SQUARE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1396439
Date first listed:
01-Feb-2011
List Entry Name:
K6 Telephone Kiosk, Adjacent to Garden Railings
Statutory Address:
K6 TELEPHONE KIOSK, ADJACENT TO GARDEN RAILINGS, BLOOMSBURY SQUARE
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1396439
Date first listed:
01-Feb-2011
List Entry Name:
K6 Telephone Kiosk, Adjacent to Garden Railings
Statutory Address 1:
K6 TELEPHONE KIOSK, ADJACENT TO GARDEN RAILINGS, BLOOMSBURY SQUARE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
K6 TELEPHONE KIOSK, ADJACENT TO GARDEN RAILINGS, BLOOMSBURY SQUARE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Greater London Authority
District:
Camden (London Borough)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
TQ 30396 81647

Reasons for Designation

The K6 telephone kiosk, adjacent to garden railings, at the south east corner of Bloomsbury Square Gardens, was recommended for designation at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Special design interest: designed by Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935, the K6 is a major landmark of industrial design. * Group value: this K6 telephone kiosk has a close visual relationship with several listed buildings.

Details

798-1/0/10398 BLOOMSBURY SQUARE
01-FEB-11 Bloomsbury
(Southeast side)
K6 telephone kiosk, adjacent to garden
railings

II
K6 telephone kiosk. Materials: cast iron and glass (except where later modified).

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.

This K6 telephone kiosk is situated at the south east corner of Bloomsbury Square Gardens. Adjacent to the east is the rear of the large commercial building Victoria House, Nos. 37-63 Southampton Row, a Grade II listed building. Across the road to the south are four Grade II listed buildings: Nos. 43, 44 and 46 Bloomsbury Square; Nos. 1-29 Sicilian Avenue; three lamp posts, Sicilian Avenue; and Avenue Chambers, Nos. 1-6 Vernon Place.

HISTORY: The K6 telephone kiosk is a milestone of C20 industrial design. The K6 was designed by 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. 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 thoughtful adaptation of architectural tradition to contemporary technological requirements. Well over 70,000 K6s were eventually produced. In the 1960s many were replaced with far plainer kiosk types. But many still remain, and continue to be an iconic feature on Britain's streetscapes.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION:
The K6 telephone kiosk, adjacent to garden railings, at the south east corner of Bloomsbury Square Gardens, is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Special design interest: designed by Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935, the K6 is a major landmark of industrial design.
* Group value: this K6 telephone kiosk has a close visual relationship with several listed buildings.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
509029
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of K6 Telephone Kiosk, Adjacent to Garden Railings

Map

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End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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