Pair of K6 Telephone kiosks

Department for International Development, 22 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2EG

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Overview

A pair of K6 telephone kiosks, designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1433290
Date first listed:: 11-May-2016
List Entry Name:: Pair of K6 Telephone kiosks
Statutory Address:: Department for International Development, 22 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2EG

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1433290
Date first listed:: 11-May-2016
List Entry Name:: Pair of K6 Telephone kiosks
Location Description:: The two K6 Telephone Kiosks in question are located to the left of the main entrance of the Government building currently occupied by the Department for International Development in Whitehall, London.
Statutory Address 1:: Department for International Development, 22 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2EG

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:: Department for International Development, 22 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2EG

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

County:: Greater London Authority
District:: City of Westminster (London Borough)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ3007080243

Summary

A pair of K6 telephone kiosks, designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

Reasons for Designation

The pair of K6 telephone kiosks outside the Department for International Development in Whitehall are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

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

* Group value: the pair of telephone kiosks stand opposite two listed buildings, and have a strong visual relationship with the Admiralty Screen. There are three other listed buildings in the immediate vicinity, and sight lines to Nelson's Column and the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament).

History

The K6 telephone kiosk is a milestone of C20 industrial design, executed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 for the General Post Office on the occasion of King George V's Silver Jubilee. It was a development from his earlier highly successful K2 telephone kiosk design of 1924, which was 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 and 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 pair of K6 Kiosks in Whitehall both bear the King's crown, dating them to before 1952.

Details

A pair of K6 Telephone kiosks, designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

MATERIALS: cast iron, teak, and concrete.

EXTERIOR: the K6 is a standardised design made of cast iron, painted red overall with long horizontal glazing in the door and sides and with gilded crowns situated on the top panels being applied not perforated. There are rectangular white display signs, reading TELEPHONE beneath the shallow-curved roof. They are made of cast iron sections bolted together, and stand on concrete bases. Each has a single side-hinged glazed teak entrance door.

The kiosks are in good condition and stand outside the Department for International Development on Whitehall, opposite the Old Shades public house (National Heritage List for England reference 1267004, listed at Grade II), and Whitehall House (NHLE reference 1066105, listed at Grade II). The Admiralty Screen by Robert Adam (NHLE reference 1066099, listed at Grade I) is immediately to the left (south) of the kiosks. Additionally, the kiosks have a strong visual relationship with Nelson's Column (NHLE reference 1276052, listed at Grade I), and the equestrian statue of Charles I (NHLE reference 1357291, listed at Grade I) to the north. Street views from the telephone kiosks to the south include the Houses of Parliament (NHLE reference 1226284, listed at Grade I) which rises in the far distance above a statue of the Duke of Cambridge (NHLE reference 1066108, listed at Grade II).

INTERIOR: all glass is intact; the kiosks have operational *C21 telephone equipment. * Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.

Sources

Websites
Telephone box history website, accessed 15/2/2016 from http://www.the-telephone-box.co.uk/kiosks/k6/

Legal

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