K6 Telephone Box at Old SPO
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1441817
- Date first listed:
- 12-Dec-2016
- List Entry Name:
- K6 Telephone Box at Old SPO
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1441817
- Date first listed:
- 12-Dec-2016
- List Entry Name:
- K6 Telephone Box at Old SPO
- Location Description:
- PCO Kiosk 781375 Old SPO, Broughton Road, Northampton, NN6 9RH
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
Location
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- West Northamptonshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Old
- National Grid Reference:
- SP7859973248
Summary
A K6 telephone kiosk situated in Broughton Road, Old, Northamptonshire.
Reasons for Designation
The K6 telephone kiosk in is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Design/aesthetic Interest: the K6 is an iconic C20 industrial design by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott;
* Group value: it has a strong visual relationship with three surrounding listed structures: the Old Rectory, the War Memorial, and the Church of St Andrew.
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. It 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. Many still remain, however, and continue to be an iconic feature on Britain's streetscapes.
Details
A K6 telephone kiosk. 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. It has modernised internal equipment. The kiosk is intact, and retains its glass windows. The exterior paint is faded at the time of survey (2016).
The kiosk occupies a prominent position on a main road through the village, situated beside the village notice board, bus shelter and post box (all unlisted). It is directly opposite The Old Rectory, (listed at Grade II), approximately 20 metres to the east, close to the War Memorial, (also listed at Grade II) approximately 40 metres to the north-east, and within sight of the Church of St Andrew, 100 metres south west, (listed at Grade I). The telephone kiosk has a strong visual relationship with these three listed buildings.
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.
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 19:37:36.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.