Pair Of K6 Telephone Kiosks Flanking Eastern Stone Pier To Front Boundary Railings

A pair of K6 telephone kiosks stand flanking the eastern stone pier to the front boundary railings before the British Museum, a Grade I listed building, and the boundary railings, main entrance gateway, and lodges, which are also listed at Grade II*. The kiosks are constructed of cast iron and glass, painted red overall with long horizontal glazing in the door and sides. The top panels display applied crowns rather than perforated ones. Rectangular white display signs reading TELEPHONE are positioned beneath the shallow-curved roof. The kiosks contain modernised internal equipment, and some windows have been replaced.

The K6 telephone kiosk is a significant example of 20th-century industrial design, a standardised design created in 1935 by Giles Gilbert Scott for the General Post Office to mark King George V's Silver Jubilee. It developed from his earlier K2 telephone kiosk design of 1924, which drew inspiration from Neo-classical styles. The K6 was streamlined, more compact, and more cost-effective to produce. Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960) was a prominent British architect, responsible for commissions including Liverpool Cathedral and Battersea Power Station. The K2 and K6 kiosks are considered thoughtful adaptations of architectural tradition to modern technological needs; over 70,000 K6s were produced before many were replaced with simpler designs in the 1960s.

The kiosks are designated at Grade II for their special design interest, as a major landmark of industrial design by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935. They are also recognised for their group value, standing in close proximity to listed buildings, including the British Museum.