There are three Grade II listed telephone boxes in Old Portsmouth. All ‘K6’ models, designed in 1935
by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and made by Lion Foundry Co. Ltd.
Broad Street has replacement Elizabeth II crowns to top panels,
Broad Street/Tower Street has George VI crowns to top panels,
Grand Parade has George VI crowns to top panels.
The door to the box in Grand Parade had been broken for some time and nearby residents have
been trying to get it fixed as it was a safety hazard.
However due to ‘everyone’ having mobile phones nowadays, these telephone boxes are rarely used
for making phone calls, and more often for photo opportunities. It seems that, as a result of drawing
BT’s attention to the phone box in Grand Parade, and asking for the door to be fixed, its telephony
has now been removed and the box is locked.
All is not lost, there is an opportunity for a ‘change of use’ adoption ownership for a nominal charge.
There are a number of examples of this in rural locations such as a book exchange or honesty shop.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Check this piece by BT for ideas and the telephone box adoption process:
https://business.bt.com/public-sector/street-hubs/adopt-a-kiosk-scheme/
One of the Broad Street phone boxes has been adopted by a group called Community Spotlight CIC
and is soon due to house a defibrillator, though it is not yet known who will take on its guardianship. https://www.communityspotlight.org.uk/
The defibrillator at the Still and West has joint guardianship – FOOPA and the Old Portsmouth
Women’s Institute. The defibrillator is checked monthly. FOOPA pays £100 a year towards its
upkeep.