The Red K6 Phone Box

 For over 50 years a traditional red telephone box was situated in the very centre of Hampstead Norreys. Sadly, this was removed during the 1980's and replaced with a modern kiosk. The new box was very high profile, being situated next to the Grade II listed Parish Well and it was always considered rather incongruous and out of place; especially if consideration was given to the fact that the centre of the village consistes largely of very old and interesting houses, cottages and barns.

The Project

The Hampstead Norreys Heritage Group were keen that certain aspects of village life be retained and conserved and it was with this in mind that they undertook the project of negotiating the reinstatement of a traditional red kiosk, thereby restoring a piece of village heritage which had been lost. With the advent of the mobile phone, BT are removing many of the familiar red kiosks from our towns and villages and the genuine concern was that in years to come this interesting piece of British History would become a rare feature in our landscape.
Before negotiations with BT commenced in 2007, the group felt it was important to establish the type and style of the original kiosk. After extensive research and a ‘fact finding mission’, it was confirmed that the box had been a model known as the ‘K6’.
Very long and protracted discussions were then embarked upon with BT and numerous requests were often met, frustratingly, with refusals and delays. It was not BT’s policy to reinstate telephone kiosks and the reinstatement of a kiosk, with a working telephone, had never been allowed. It took much perseverance and tenacity, with the request being eventually discussed at Board level within BT, before we were rewarded with the delightful news, in July 2008, that our request had been granted and the village could buy a box and BT would install a working telephone.

Renovation

The pains-taking research into the renovation and supply of a replacement K6 took many months but resuted in an order being placed with a small company in Lincolnshire. This turned out to be an extremely good choice as the company gave tremendous support, help and advice throughout. The timetable was strictly adhered to and they liased directly with BT over the siting, orientation and deklivery of the K6 kiosk. 

Kiosk renovation is a very long and time consuming process with much care being taken to preserve the original casting.

First the kiosk is stripped and all the remaining glass and fittings are removed until all that remains is a cast iron shell

The shell is then sand blasted back to bare metal so it resembles the condition it was in when it first came out of the faundry

The final piece of restoration is the "Crown", which adorms the traditional kiosks. These are the finishing touches and depict the era in which the box was originally made, i.e. George VI
or Elizabeth II.

Site Preparation

On the 26th November 2009 BT finally began the dismantling and removal of the grey plastic box in readiness for the installation of our new kiosk.

Installation 

On the 10th December 2009 the long awaited day arrived when our new kiosk was due to be delivered.  It was a truly momentous moment when the flat-bed truck was sighted carrying its unusual load. It received a warm and rapturous welcome from the good number of residents who braved a chilly morning to welcome it back to the  village.

 





Then came the mammoth task of hoisting the K6 kiosk into its new home. Within minutes the area, by the Well and Gardens, was transformed with the return of a familiar landmark.

The amount of media interest the return of the K6 generated was overwhelming with it being televised on Meridian and South Today television, live interviews on Radio 2 and Radio Berkshire and the National and Local press covering the story.

The final part of the project was the installation of a telephone, which BT installed on the 15th December 2009 and finally the SEB reconnected electricity which meant that the light within the kiosk was working - essential when you have a village without street lights!

So much has been lost in our rural villages over the last few years, shops, pubs and schools it is so good to have the opportunity to put back not only a piece of heritage but a facility which can be used by the whole community and visitors alike.

We are very grateful to the West Berks Council, who funded this project and to the Parish Council who have agreed to maintain the kiosk and to pay line rental whilst the telephone is being used.

Historical Notes

It was only after the General Post Office took over the ever-expanding telephone network in 1912 that they decided phone boxes should have a uniform look and in1921 the kiosk number one - or K1 telephone kiosk - was introduced.

In 1923, the GPO held a competition to design a new kiosk and designs from many companies and architects were entered.  It was not until 1926, however, that the chosen design appeared, the Giles Gilbert Scott's K2, but unfortunately this proved too big and very expensive for mass production.
The GPO was still keen to have a new design and once again commissioned Sir Giles to produce another design.  In 1929 the K3 appeared, a smaller, concrete version of the K2, this kiosk was an immediate success with 12,000 appearing countrywide.

The K4, nicknamed the Vermillion Giant, was intended to be a 24 hour post office with a stamp machine and letter box added to the back but proved to be a dismal failure with only 50 being produced and was soon withdrawn.

In 1934, a K5 was produced, made of plywood as a temporary kiosk for use at exhibitions and fairs etc. It was only in the 1990s that the designs of this box were rediscovered and it is not known if any originals still survive.

There were many K3s still in use but problems were beginning to occur with them, and the GPO considered that a new cast iron box was needed.  In 1936 the K6 appeared for the first time on the streets. The kiosk was perfect, it had all the good points of the K1s and K3s mixed with the solidness of the K2 and most importantly, the small size and elegance that the GPO were looking for. The K6 was widely used and by the end of production, there were nearly 70,000 K6s in Britain. Many areas didn't first approve of the red paint and so were allowed to paint them in alternative colour schemes.  Ironically it is now the iconic ‘red’ which has become the familiar symbol associated with our heritage kiosks.

The K7 - planned in 1959 – was designed by Neville Condor. It was an innovative design in its use of materials and six prototypes were produced in aluminum. It was eventually produced 1962; however the British climate caused discolouration and staining of the aluminum so the design didn't prove successful and very few were introduced onto the streets of Britain.
The K8 was introduced by the British Post Office in July 1968. Two designers, Douglas Scott and Bruce Martin, had been commissioned in 1965 to produce designs for a new kiosk. The chosen design had to incorporate the best features of previous designs and be suitable for both urban and rural surroundings.

Bruce Martin's design was eventually selected and when introduced had been produced in just over one year, the shortest time then taken to create a new kiosk. It was made from cast iron and contained full length toughened glass, and became the successor to Kiosk No. 6 (the K6).