K6 Telephone Kiosks At St Paul'S Cathedral

Three K6 telephone kiosks. These standardised kiosks are constructed of cast iron, painted red overall, with long horizontal glazing in the door and sides, and feature applied crowns on the top panels rather than perforated crowns. Rectangular white display signs reading “TELEPHONE” are located beneath the shallow curved roof. The interiors contain modernised equipment.

A pair of kiosks are located on the south-west side of St Paul's Churchyard, opposite the west front of St Paul's Cathedral (Grade I). A single kiosk is situated adjacent to the tower of St Augustine Watling Street (Grade I), to the south-east of the Cathedral. Records indicate the pair on St Paul's Churchyard were moved to their current location in 2007.

The K6 telephone kiosk is a significant example of 20th-century industrial design, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 for the General Post Office to commemorate King George V’s Silver Jubilee. It evolved from his earlier K2 telephone kiosk design of 1924, drawing inspiration from Neo-classical architecture. The K6 was designed to be more streamlined, compact, and cost-effective to mass produce. Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960) was a prominent British architect, responsible for numerous celebrated commissions including Liverpool Cathedral and Battersea Power Station. The K2 and K6 telephone kiosks represent a considered adaptation of architectural traditions to meet contemporary technological needs. Over 70,000 K6 kiosks were produced, with many being replaced by more basic designs in the 1960s, but many continue to serve as iconic features of the British landscape.

The kiosks are designated at Grade II for their design interest; Giles Gilbert Scott's design is notable for its artistry, functionality, and iconic status as a milestone in 20th-century industrial design, and for their strong visual relationship to St Paul’s Cathedral and other listed buildings in this area of exceptional architectural and historic importance.