Four rare telephone boxes on the London Underground network have been awarded Grade-II listed status.
The ‘K8’ boxes - on platforms at High Street Kensington, Chalfont and Latimer, Chorleywood, and Northwick Park stations - are among around 50 that remain in the UK, of 11,000 that were once installed.
They have now been given the special protectoin for architectural and historic interest by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.
The K8 was the “last generation” of public phone boxes. They were designed in the mid-60s by architect Bruce Martin who was commissioned by the General Post Office, which owned the public telephone network.
Modern and minimalist, they were designed to be easier to repair and maintain than previous models, which featured intricate glass panelling.
Around 11,000 K8s were installed across the UK between 1968 and 1983.
All but around 50 were removed by British Telecom following its privatisation in 1984, and replaced with sleek silver kiosks known as the KX100, which mobile phones have made virtually obselete.
But the Tube station K8s have survived, as they are owned by London Underground.
They served a special purpose, as an internal telephone system for station staff, and are painted colours different to the traditional letterbox red, to show they are for private use.
Tom Foxall, regional director at Historic England, said: “There are very few designs that can be genuinely termed as ‘iconic’ but the K8 is certainly one of them.
“Like its predecessors, this kiosk was a defining feature of 20th century Britain’s physical, technological and cultural landscape. Very few K8s survive, so they certainly need to be cherished and protected.”
Catherine Croft, director of the Twentieth Century Society, said: “We’re delighted to see four more K8 kiosks recognised with national listing. The 1960s modernist K8 is the last in the line of the classic telephone boxes and is the perfect example of how good design – no matter how small – can help to enrich our high streets and communities.”
Arts and Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, added: “This distinctive telephone box design, once a ubiquitous part of daily life in the UK, is now rare to see in our public spaces. I am delighted these remaining examples have been listed so that their design can continue to be admired and enjoyed for years to come.”
The London boxes join nine K8s in Hull that were given listed status earlier this year. The protection of the 11 K8s has come about thanks to applications made by phone box enthusiasts.
Fans reportedly share information about the whereabouts of K8s on online forums, and make special trips to confirm possible sightings.
A total of 24 K8s are currently on the National Heritage List for England.
Historic England says it will consider listing applications of any unrecorded K8s, where evidence is provided.
