K6 outside the Masters Lodge, St John's College

Summary

K6 telephone kiosk.

Reasons for Designation

The K6 telephone kiosk designed in 1935 and located outside St John's College Masters Lodge, Bridge Street, Cambridge is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest: the K6 is an iconic C20 industrial design by Giles Gilbert Scott;
* Group value: the K6 kiosk has a strong visual relationship with six listed buildings. The position of the kiosk next to St John's College Masters Lodge, designed by the architect's grandfather Sir George Gilbert Scott, further enhances the group value.

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 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 far plainer kiosk types. But many still remain, and continue to be an iconic feature on Britain's streetscapes.

Details

The K6 is a standardised design made of cast iron, painted red overall with long horizontal glazing in 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 kiosk has modernised internal equipment. Although the paintwork is slightly discoloured in places the kiosk is generally in good condition and retains glass panels throughout.

The kiosk is in a prominent location and makes a major contribution to the streetscape. It is situated adjacent to the boundary wall of the Grade II listed St John's College Masters Lodge designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the grandfather of Giles Gilbert Scott. This K6 also has a visual relationship with a number of listed buildings on the opposite side of Bridge Street in particular numbers 30a, 29, 26 and 24. It is also visible from St Clements Church.

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

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