K6 telephone kiosk adjacent to the Reading Room, Church Knowle

Church Knowle, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5NF

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

Overview

A 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:: 1445385
Date first listed:: 31-Mar-2017
List Entry Name:: K6 telephone kiosk adjacent to the Reading Room, Church Knowle
Statutory Address:: Church Knowle, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5NF

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1445385
Date first listed:: 31-Mar-2017
List Entry Name:: K6 telephone kiosk adjacent to the Reading Room, Church Knowle
Location Description:
Statutory Address 1:: Church Knowle, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5NF

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:: Church Knowle, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5NF

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

District:: Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Church Knowle
National Grid Reference:: SY9394681797

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

The K6 telephone kiosk adjacent to the Reading Room in Church Knowle is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Design interest: the K6 is an iconic example of C20 British design, with intrinsic value; * Degree of survival: the kiosk survives relatively intact; * Relationship with listed buildings: the kiosk has a strong visual relationship with a number of listed buildings, all of which stand within the Church Knowle Conservation Area.

History

The K6 telephone kiosk is a milestone of C20 British 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 kiosk of 1924. 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 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 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 AND PLAN The kiosk is constructed largely of cast iron and glass, and is square on plan.

DESCRIPTION The K6 is a standardised design made of cast iron, painted red overall with long horizontal glazing in the door and sides. There are crowns in the top panels; these are applied rather than perforated. There are rectangular white display signs beneath the shallow domed roof which read TELEPHONE.

The K6 kiosk in Church Knowle has modernised internal equipment but is otherwise structurally intact, although its red paint is flaking in places and its display signs are faded. It stands near to a number of listed buildings: the Reading Room (Grade II) is immediately adjacent to the W and the Old Cottage (Grade II) is opposite to the SE. The Post Office (Grade II) is approximately 30m to the SW, and there is a further pair of Grade II cottages listed as Nos 11 and 12 Including Church Knowle stores to the SE. The telephone kiosk has a good visual relationship with these listed buildings collectively.

Sources

None.

Legal

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