K6 Telephone Box, Hanging Houghton

Summary

A K6 telephone kiosk designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The modern telecommunications equipment within the K6 is not of special architectural or historic interest.

Reasons for Designation

The K6 telephone kiosk on Manor Road, Hanging Houghton, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Design interest: it is an iconic example of industrial design, showing Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's adaptation of Neo-classical forms for a modern technological function

* Group value: it has a strong visual relationship with Nos.18 and 19 (Grooms Cottage), Manor Road, and No.20 (School House), Manor Road, all Grade II listed.

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 a new kiosk type. But many still remain, and continue to be an iconic feature on Britain's streetscapes.

Details

A K6 telephone kiosk designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

MATERIALS: of cast-iron and glass.

EXTERIOR: 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. Although the display signs are now faded and discoloured, the kiosk appears generally in good condition and retains glass panels throughout.

INTERIOR: it has modernised telecommunications equipment.*

The kiosk stands in a prominent location on a grass verge on the south side of Manor Road, at its junction with a north to south aligned metalled road providing access to several private houses, including Nos.18 and 19 (Grooms Cottage) Manor Road and No.20 (School House) Manor Road, all listed Grade II. The telephone kiosk has a strong visual relationship with these three listed buildings collectively.

* 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.

End of official list entry

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