Red Telephone Boxes

The red telephone box designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott is an iconic British symbol. They can be found in the UK and in current and former British Colonies, including Malta, Bermuda and Gibraltar.

The first version of the red telephone box as we know it was brought in in 1924 to rival a phone kiosk that had been introduced by the Post Office. A competition was held to find a design, with the Royal Fine Art Commission being instrumental in the judging process.

Despite a reduction in their numbers in recent years, there are many red boxes in use and many as internet kiosks. They hold a special place in many people’s hearts and are a quintessentially English symbol on streets up and down the land.

Image credit: Chris Robertshaw