A pair of K6 telephone kiosks, Royal Exchange Buildings

Summary

A pair of K6 telephone kiosks, designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, which stand by the Royal Exchange buildings in the Bank Conservation Area, City of London.

Reasons for Designation

A pair of K6 telephone kiosks at the Royal Exchange Buildings, in the Bank Conservation Area, City of London is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historic interest: on account of its public historic associations, including the commission of the K6 from a renowned architect, in celebration of King George V's Silver Jubilee;

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

* Group Value: as two K6 kiosks, which form a pair historically and have a strong visual relationship with six surrounding listed buildings and structures within the Bank Conservation Area.

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 his Battersea power station. The K2 and K6 telephone kiosks can be said to represent a very thoughtful adaption 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.

These K6 telephone kiosks, which form a pair, by the Royal Exchange buildings were painted green in 2013 to promote the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Samaritans by Reverend Chad Varah of St Stephen Walbrook. Both were re-painted to their traditional red, in 2015.

Details

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 on all four sides. It usually has modernised internal equipment.

Two telephone kiosks which are painted red with glazing, signage and embossed crowns intact, standing as a pair in a pedestrian piazza by the Royal Exchange (Grade I, National Heritage List for England 1064713) to the west; 1-2 Royal Exchange Buildings (Grade II, NHLE 1375282) to the east; the Charity Drinking Fountain, to the north (Grade II, NHLE 1358907, also known as Drinking Fountain (North), Royal Exchange Buildings) and the Jubilee or Temperance Drinking Fountain, to the south (Grade II, NHLE 1194420, also known as Drinking Fountain (South), Royal Exchange Buildings). There is a pavement pump, to the south of the Exchange (Grade II, NHLE 1286648) and the statue of George Peabody to the north (Grade II, NHLE 1194436).

The telephone kiosks have a strong visual relationship with all of these listed buildings and structures collectively.

The modern internal communication equipment has been removed from both kiosks.

Sources

Other
Stamp G, Telephone Boxes, 1989

End of official list entry

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