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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


1366 images use this description. Preview sample shown below:

TF4821 : K6 Kiosk by N Chadwick
ST8508 : Durweston: red telephone box by Chris Downer
SY8997 : Winterborne Zelston: phone box on the A31 by Chris Downer
ND3091 : Hoy: telephone box at North Ness by Chris Downer
SK6826 : Bus shelter and telephone kiosk by Alan Murray-Rust
TQ3080 : London: red phone box, 143 Strand by Chris Downer
TF0638 : Village library by Bob Harvey
HU2379 : Eshaness: the telephone box by Chris Downer
SU5506 : Fareham: phone box in Highlands Road by Chris Downer
NG3141 : Ose: postbox № IV56 84 and phone by Chris Downer
SY7585 : Warmwell: the old post office by Chris Downer
ST7834 : Defibrillator Box on Bells Lane by David Dixon
SK7267 : Twitchell Cottage and telephone kiosk, Laxton by Alan Murray-Rust
HP6208 : Baltasound: postbox № ZE2 118 by Chris Downer
TQ3884 : Stratford: information booths at the station by Chris Downer
TQ2980 : London: phone boxes in Trafalgar Square by Chris Downer
TL5533 : Wonky telephone box by N Chadwick
SO2258 : Yardro: a phone box tries to hide in a hedge by Chris Downer
TL4458 : Church of St Mary the Great by N Chadwick
SK1285 : Edale: postbox № S33 559 and phone by Chris Downer
SU5405 : Fareham: forlorn phone box on Catisfield Lane corner by Chris Downer
SU0757 : Not quite what it seems by Basher Eyre
TQ5927 : K6 Telephone Kiosk by N Chadwick
TQ2881 : Telephone Kiosk, Cavendish Square by N Chadwick
ST5704 : Evershot: the telephone box by Chris Downer

... and 1341 more images.

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