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K6 Telephone kiosk on the Quayside pedestrian area, Cambridge

K6 Telephone kiosk on the Quayside pedestrian area, Bridge Street, Cambridge

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

K6 telephone kiosk. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1416702
Date first listed:: 28-Feb-2014
List Entry Name:: K6 Telephone kiosk on the Quayside pedestrian area, Cambridge
Statutory Address:: K6 Telephone kiosk on the Quayside pedestrian area, Bridge Street, Cambridge

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1416702
Date first listed:: 28-Feb-2014
List Entry Name:: K6 Telephone kiosk on the Quayside pedestrian area, Cambridge
Statutory Address 1:: K6 Telephone kiosk on the Quayside pedestrian area, Bridge Street, Cambridge

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

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

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 on the Quayside pedestrian area, Bridge Street, Cambridge

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

County:: Cambridgeshire
District:: Cambridge (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TL4473858943

Summary

K6 telephone kiosk

Reasons for Designation

The K6 telephone kiosk at the Quayside, Cambridge is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Architectural interest: an iconic example of industrial design, showing Giles Gilbert Scott's adaptation of Neoclassical forms for a modern technological function; * Group value: it has a strong visual relationship with a number of nearby listed buildings, including Magdalene Bridge and Magdalene College Bright's Building.

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

The K6 telephone kiosk at Cambridge has a strong visual link with a number of Grade II listed buildings, including Magdalene Bridge, no. 31 Magdalene Street and the Pickerel Inn.

Details

The K6 is a standardised design by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott made of cast iron, painted red overall with long horizontal glazing in sides.

EXTERIOR: Horizontal and vertical glazing bars divide each glazed side into eight panes with flanking narrow margin lights. The Soane-inspired domed roof adorns the arched heads of each side, with a crown in relief above glazed panels inscribed with the word 'TELEPHONE'.

INTERIOR: 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.

Sources

None.

Legal

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