K6 Telephone Kiosk

This is a K6 telephone kiosk, constructed in the 1950s. The K6 is a standardised design made of cast iron, painted red with long horizontal glazing in the door and sides, and topped with applied crowns representing the St Edward's Crown of Elizabeth II. Rectangular white display signs reading "TELEPHONE" are positioned below the shallow-curved roof. The original glazing has been replaced with Perspex. The kiosk is located in a prominent position on the south-east corner of Quoiting Square, adjacent to a postal pillar box.

The K6 telephone kiosk represents a milestone in 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 developed from his earlier, highly successful K2 telephone kiosk design of 1924, inspired by Neo-classical architecture. The K6 was streamlined, more compact, and more cost-effective to mass produce. Over 70,000 K6s were eventually produced, with many replaced in the 1960s, but they remain iconic features of British streetscapes. This example was installed in its current location in 1955.

The kiosk is designated at Grade II for its prominent location within the historic market town, its close visual association with at least ten listed buildings, and its status as a representative example of this significant 20th-century industrial design within an urban setting.