K6 Telephone Kiosk

The K6 telephone kiosk is a standardised design made of cast iron, painted red overall with long horizontal glazing in the door and sides, and features applied crowns on the top panels, rather than perforated ones. Rectangular white display signs read "TELEPHONE" beneath the shallow-curved roof. The interior contains modernised equipment. The red paint is slightly flaking along the bottom edge, but all original glass windows remain intact. The kiosk is situated within the grounds of a late 18th-century mill complex, originally built for cotton and silk spinning. It is positioned directly in front of a row of five Grade II listed cottages, opposite a Grade II listed former manager's house, and within the immediate setting of two converted mills and a row of three cottages, all also Grade II listed. The kiosk creates a strong visual relationship with these listed buildings, occupying a prominent position.

The K6 telephone kiosk is a milestone of 20th-century industrial design. Designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 for the General Post Office to commemorate King George V’s Silver Jubilee, it evolved from his earlier, highly successful K2 telephone kiosk design of 1924, which was inspired by Neo-classical architecture. The K6 was more streamlined, compact, and cost-effective to mass-produce. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960) was a significant British architect, known for works like Liverpool Cathedral and Battersea Power Station. The K2 and K6 telephone kiosks exemplify a considered adaptation of architectural tradition to contemporary technological needs. Over 70,000 K6s were produced, though many were replaced in the 1960s with simpler designs.

The kiosk is designated at Grade II for its iconic 20th-century design by Giles Gilbert Scott and for its significant group value, demonstrating a close visual relationship with other listed buildings in the area.