WHEN we think of Grade II-listed buildings, most of us think of grand, historic buildings like St John's College on St Giles in Oxford.

However, the city's latest Grade II-listed structure is not the college building – it's the phone box in front of it.

Historic England has awarded the protected status to the K6 red telephone kiosk because it is one of the few original examples of the 'icon' of British streets from the early 20th century.

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Explaining its decision, Historic England said: "The K6 telephone kiosk is an iconic feature on Britain's streets.

"The K6 was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 for the General Post Office, on the occasion of King George V's Silver Jubilee.

%image('12143302', type='article-full', caption='The Grade II-listed red phone box outside St John's College on St Giles, Oxford. Picture: Google Maps', alt='The Grade II-listed red phone box outside St John's College on St Giles, Oxford. Picture: Google Maps')

"It was a development from Scott's earlier, highly successful K2 telephone kiosk design of 1924, of neoclassical inspiration. The K6 was more streamlined aesthetically, more compact and more cost-effective to mass produce.

"In the 1960s many were replaced with far plainer kiosk types. Archive photography indicates that this kiosk was installed in its location after 1957."

Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960) is widely considered to be one of the most important modern British architects.

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His works include the towering Anglican cathedral of Liverpool and the famous Battersea power station.

Historic England said that his well-loved K2 and K6 telephone kiosks 'can be said to represent a very thoughtful adaptation of architectural tradition to contemporary technological requirements'.

More than 70,000 K6s were eventually produced.

In the 1960s many were replaced with far plainer kiosk types, but many still remain, and Historic England said they 'continue to be an iconic feature on Britain's streetscapes'.

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