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.
