Electricity Junction Box Outside Nos. 12-14

The electricity junction box outside Nos. 12-14 Bathurst Road in Folkestone is an early 20th-century structure, believed to date to around 1904. This cast iron box stands about 1.2 meters high and has a square base that is attic in form, resting on a shallow plinth. Each rectangular side features a panel with raised decoration within a moulded frame, including a door for access. The most elaborately decorated panel displays the crest of Folkestone Borough Council. Above each panel, there is a pendulous arabesque decoration hanging from the lower edge of the cornice. The box transitions from a square to an octagon at the chamfered moulded shoulders, with inverted cup handles featuring fluted decoration on alternate sides. It is topped with a moulded cornice and finished with a domed cap.

The junction box is located on the roadside in front of Nos. 12 and 14 Bathurst Road, which were built in 1904, as indicated by a date embossed on the porch of No. 14. This suggests that the junction box was likely installed by Folkestone Borough Council to provide electricity to these properties, consistent with similar structures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries found elsewhere in England.

This cast iron junction box is a notable example of early electricity distribution equipment, showcasing a unique and ornate design that may be exclusive to Folkestone. It reflects the high quality of industrial design during the early electricity industry.