K6 Telephone Kiosk

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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:: 1472831
Date first listed:: 01-Dec-2020
List Entry Name:: K6 Telephone Kiosk

Telephone kiosk, on right of image, photographed next to Crowan village hall. — Uploaded by Emma Trevarthen This photo may not represent the current condition of the site
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1472831
Date first listed:: 01-Dec-2020
List Entry Name:: K6 Telephone Kiosk
Location Description:: Adjacent to the village hall in Crowan, Camborne, Cornwall.

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

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

District:: Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Crowan
National Grid Reference:: SW6455434477

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

The K6 telephone kiosk in Crowan is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* as an iconic example of industrial design, showing Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's adaptation of neoclassical forms for a modern technological function.

Historic interest:

* the K6 telephone kiosk was designed to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935 by the eminent architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, further developing his successful K2 telephone kiosk design of 1924.

Group value: * for its contribution to the streetscape and its strong visual relationship with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Crewenna with its Grade II-listed walls and gate piers, and Rakaia and Crewenna Cottages (Grade II).

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.

The K6 is a standardised design made of cast iron, painted red overall with long horizontal glazing to 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.

The kiosk is in good overall condition and survives well, although it leans slightly out of perpendicular. The internal equipment has been modernised.

It is located in its original position adjacent to the village hall (unlisted) in the centre of the village of Crowan and in close proximity to the Church of St Crewenna (Grade II*), the churchyard walls and gate piers (Grade II), and the Grade II-listed Rakaia and Crewenna Cottages, all of which it has a strong visual relationship with.

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.