K6 Telephone Kiosk, adjacent to 32 High Street
32 High Street, Oxford, Oxford, OX1 4AN
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1465810
- Date first listed:
- 18-Oct-2019
- List Entry Name:
- K6 Telephone Kiosk, adjacent to 32 High Street
- Statutory Address:
- 32 High Street, Oxford, Oxford, OX1 4AN
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1465810
- Date first listed:
- 18-Oct-2019
- List Entry Name:
- K6 Telephone Kiosk, adjacent to 32 High Street
- Location Description:
- The K6 Telephone Kiosk stands between 32 and 33 High Street Oxford, adjacent to the double gate granting access to All Souls College.
- Statutory Address 1:
- 32 High Street, Oxford, Oxford, OX1 4AN
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
- Statutory Address:
- 32 High Street, Oxford, Oxford, OX1 4AN
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:
- SP5172206279
Summary
K6 telephone kiosk, designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.
Reasons for Designation
The K6 Telephone Kiosk adjacent to 32 High Street, Oxford, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* as an iconic design by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, one of the leading British architects of the period.
Group value:
* for its strong visual relationship with multiple listed buildings along the High Street, particularly: All Souls College, Wardens Lodging (Grade II*), University College, Gatehouse University College, North Range (Grade I), Church of St Mary the Virgin (Grade I), All Souls College, Gateway to High Street at Eastern End of the Frontage (Grade II), 33 & 34 High Street, Oxford (Grade II) and The Queen's College, South Range (Grade I).
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 neoclassical 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.
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, the kiosk remains intact. It is generally in good condition and retains its glazing panels. The kiosk is not in operational use and the internal telephone equipment has been removed.
The K6 stands on the north side of Oxford High Street, outside All Souls College. It is situated near to many listed buildings and has a strong visual relationship with these. They include: All Souls College, Wardens Lodging (Grade II*), University College, Gatehouse University College, North Range (Grade I), Church of St Mary the Virgin (Grade I), All Souls College, Gateway to High Street at Eastern End of the Frontage (Grade II), 33 & 34 High Street, Oxford (Grade II) and The Queen's College, South Range (Grade I).
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 03-Jul-2026 at 13:57:36.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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