K6 telephone kiosk

Market Street, Oxford, OX1 3DU

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

K6 telephone kiosk, 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:: 1443614
Date first listed:: 07-Mar-2017
List Entry Name:: K6 telephone kiosk
Statutory Address:: Market Street, Oxford, OX1 3DU

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1443614
Date first listed:: 07-Mar-2017
List Entry Name:: K6 telephone kiosk
Location Description:: At OS grid reference SP 51372 06293.
Statutory Address 1:: Market Street, Oxford, OX1 3DU

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:: Market Street, Oxford, OX1 3DU

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

County:: Oxfordshire
District:: Oxford (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: SP5137206294

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

The K6 telephone kiosk on Market Street, Oxford, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Design interest: as 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 the Grade I-listed S ranges of Jesus College's Inner Quadrangle and First Quadrangle, and the Grade II-listed Covered Market.

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 far plainer kiosk types. But many still remain, and continue to be an iconic feature on Britain's streetscapes. This example bears the 'Tudor Crown' which would indicate a date of construction between 1935 and 1952.

Details

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

DESCRIPTION: The K6 is a standardised design made of cast iron sections bolted together, 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 there are some signs of paint flaking from the front face, the kiosk remains intact. It is generally in good condition and retains the glazing panels throughout. The kiosk is not in operational use and the internal telephone equipment has been removed.

The K6 stands on the S side of Market Street; to the E of the service entrance to the Grade II-listed Covered Market. Additionally, on the opposite side of the road are the S ranges of the Inner Quadrangle and First Quadrangle of Jesus College, both of which are listed at Grade I. The telephone kiosk has a strong visual relationship with these three listed buildings collectively.

Sources

Websites
Website detailing historic telephone boxes, accessed 13 January 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.