Pair Of K6 Telephone Kiosks Adjacent To Boundary Railings And Gates

This is a pair of K6 telephone kiosks dating from 1935. They are located on the southeast corner of Russell Square, near the boundary railings and gates of Russell Square Gardens, which is also designated at Grade II.

The kiosks are constructed of painted red cast iron with horizontal glazing in the door and sides, and applied crowns on the roof panels. Rectangular white display signs reading "TELEPHONE" are positioned beneath the curved roof. The kiosks contain modernised equipment internally.

The K6 telephone kiosk was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott for the General Post Office to commemorate King George V's Silver Jubilee; it was a more streamlined and cost-effective evolution of his earlier, highly successful K2 design. Giles Gilbert Scott was a significant 20th-century British architect responsible for notable works including Liverpool Cathedral and Battersea Power Station. Over 70,000 K6 kiosks were produced, with many later replaced, but they remain an iconic feature of the British landscape.

The kiosks are designated at Grade II for their special design interest as a key example of industrial design and for their group value, due to their prominent setting within the Georgian urban layout of Russell Square and their proximity to other listed buildings and features.