June 2018.
There are three old and decommissioned K6 type telephone boxes in our parish and two of them have been adopted and now belong to Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Council. (WAGPC)
The other boxes are located in Crockers Ash, and G’t Doward. Their condition varied.
The kiosk on Gt Doward.
With funding of £1000 from the Parish Council, the History Society originally intended to undertake a general refurbishment of all three, starting with the kiosk at Crockers Ash. Our aim was to eventually make them all suitable for public use as information points. They would contain information provided by us about local historical characters, local places of interest and perhaps provide directions for walks both in the immediate area and longer routes connecting to the other phone boxes. They will not be available for public advertising notices or business card display or book exchange. The Parish Council were not keen on them being used for this.
Whilst under the care of the GPO phone boxes were re-painted periodically with a modern paint on top of the original lead based paint. I don’t think they did a very good job, perhaps not cleaning it enough before adding another coat, because several layers have been peeling off. Using a wire brush on an angle driver all the flaking paint was removed before washing down to remove the last years of the dirt and grime before applying an undercoat \ primer and finally a cherry red gloss top coat. Paint to the original specification paint and all spares are still available from specialist suppliers.
It has only very recently transpired (September 2018) that the Great Doward kiosk still belongs to BT, although it would appear someone local has done some work to make it upright again.
Crockers Ash kiosk.
Completion of the renovation of this box was achieved in 2019. We have installed two secure notice boards inside, fixed to the original phone backboard and replaced the original top windows with ‘Information’ windows. It is now equipped with local information for the use of visitors and locals alike. There are two notice boards inside, one with a unique and specially revised map of our area depicting local amenities and places of interest whilst the other contains short articles about some local people and places plus some leaflets detailing directions for some specially interesting local walks.
Symonds Yat kiosk.
We are very pleased to be able to report that a small group, tirelessly led by Peter Hunt, (who did the lion’s share of the work) has now completed the restoration of this phone box. You can now go and see it looking splendid and complete with a local map of the area showing tourist attractions, together with some local historical information.
We are extremely grateful to Jamie Hicks and John Blows who sponsored a new door for this box, as the old one was rotting away (see below)
Work in progress at Symonds Yat West kiosk.
With the door frame installed the window frame was sealed and screwed in place before replacing the glazing. Next the final painting, a new and larger notice board and finally a concrete slab outside the entrance.
Job finished July 19th 2020.
Peter Hunt.
Crockers Ash kiosk.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Local History Society 