K2 & K6 Telephone Boxes [1386 photos] :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

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K2 & K6 Telephone Boxes

The iconic red telephone kiosk was the result of a competition in 1924 to design a telephone box suitable for London Metropolitan Boroughs. A design by Giles Gilbert Scott, a British Architect, was chosen. The box, to be known as the K2 was deployed in London in 1926. The post office suggested it be painted red.

The K6 was introduced in 1935, designed to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V. It was a smaller version of the K2, and went on to be installed prolifically around the country. It is the most recognised and iconic telephone box, that many people around the world are familiar with. The first K6 is still to be found outside the Royal Academy of Art in London.

Other versions of the red telephone box were designed and implemented but none were ever to survive the popularity of the K6.

Over 240,000 red telephone boxes were built between the 1920s and 1980s.
BT had replaced many red telephone boxes during the 1980s and 90s with the aluminium KX100, leading to English Heritage to designate over 2000 as listed structures. Only 9400 K6's remain.

BT offered councils to 'adopt-a-kiosk' for £1 to keep local K6's in place. Many have found alternate uses as mini libraries/book exchanges & art galleries, and even for storage of heart defibrillators.

by Oast House Archive

Created: Wed, 18 Nov 2009, Updated: Sat, 25 Apr 2015

1386 images use this description. Preview sample shown below:

SU1015 : Damerham: telephone box and The Cottage by Chris Downer

SY9777 : Telephone Kiosk, Worth Matravers by N Chadwick

TQ4216 : Telephone Kiosk, Spithurst Rd by N Chadwick

ST7610 : Fifehead Neville: the telephone box by Chris Downer

SO9006 : Grade II listed red phonebox, George Street, Bisley by Jaggery

SK6917 : No longer a phone box by Bob Harvey

TQ2879 : London: two phone boxes abutting Hyde Park by Chris Downer

ST8706 : Bryanston: pony and phone box by Chris Downer

SK1085 : Barber Booth: the telephone box by Chris Downer

SY6873 : Portland: phone box at Fortuneswell by Chris Downer

SK6037 : Telephone kiosk and fingerpost by Alan Murray-Rust

TQ3181 : 4 telephone kiosks by N Chadwick

SY7286 : Broadmayne: phone box in Chalky Road by Chris Downer

HY5730 : Eday: a phone box and a departing ferry by Chris Downer

SO3700 : Red phonebox, Twyn Square, Usk by Jaggery

TQ5243 : Telephone Kiosk, Penshurst by N Chadwick

TL3451 : Telephone box, Wimpole Park by N Chadwick

SY8894 : Bloxworth: the old post office by Chris Downer

TQ4344 : Wheatsheaf Inn sign and telephone box by N Chadwick

TM2319 : Phone box in Old Road by Basher Eyre

TQ5236 : Telephone box by the B2110 by N Chadwick

... and 1361 more images.

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