We all love England’s unique red telephone boxes, now sadly becoming less common, with the advent of mobile phones (learn of more ethical mobile phone networks).
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (who designed the original ones, inspired by Soane Memorial at St Pancras Old Church) wanted them to be silver. But someone else from the General Post Office (which also ran the phone network back in the day) chose the colour red.
By the mid 20th century, there were 60,000 of them nationwide. Sir Giles also designed Liverpool cathedral and helped to rebuild the Houses of Parliament, after bombs fell on it, during World War II.
Years ago, many people had no home phone either. So would give the number of their nearest red telephone box to contact them, then run across the road to answer it, when it rang!
Today there are still red telephone boxes in areas with poor mobile coverage. And some are placed in areas with high rates of suicide (like near cliffs or railway lines).
I remember the cold damp concrete floor. When you dialled the number, there was a second or two, when you could hear the pips on the other end. Before the ‘beep beep beep’ of the pips started, and you pushed your coin in. Nostalgic user!
How to Adopt a Disused Telephone Box
As man red telephone boxes are no longer in use, communities can adopt them for just £1, using BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme. Just let them know the reason to use it (say a book library, a mini art gallery or a place to store the community defibrillator).
Did you know the villagers of the fictional village of Ambridge in Radio 4’s The Archers have adopted a red telephone box?
Better Choices for Landline Phones
For older and disabled people who use landlines, BT Home Essentials offers affordable deals with people on low incomes, including pensioners and disabled residents. You’ll need your national insurance number, to apply. You’ll receive affordable home deals (with optional broadband). People with hearing or speech difficulties can also take advantage of BT’s Relay Service, which lets a hearing person relay info on your behalf.
BT 195 Directory Enquiries is a free service for people who can’t read (or hold a phone book) due to impairment or disability. Registered customers also don’t pay for 1471 or 1571 (call return) fee.
Landline services are being upgraded in 2025 to VOIP (voice over internet protocol), which runs on broadband. People who use landline phones (and security alarms) should check with suppliers, to check re upgrades.
- The VOIP Shop offers a digital landline service that works in storms (with flat fee calls to mobile phones). Digital phone lines have built-in encryption, so no-one can listen in. This is presently the only BT alternative (good to avoid a monopoly).
- BT only reduced its prices, after being told to by OFCOM. The other option is to bundle your mobile package, which opens up broadband deals like NOW TV (around £30 a month, which includes use of a landline via Openreach phone lines).
a Phone Box Caught the Moors Murderers
Maureen Smith (the sister of Myra Hindley) and her husband David (they were just 19 and 17 at the time) were incredibly brave, alerting the police to the crimes of her sister Myra Hindley (and Ian Brady). Which undoubtedly stopped more tragic killings.
David Smith was a young ‘soft criminal’, who was asked to visit the couple. When he realised what they were doing, he played it cool, knowing if he said anything, he would also be killed.
He returned home to confide in his wife. In the early hours, they ran to the nearest red telephone box (armed with a knife and screwdriver for protection) and called 999.
Their testimony led to the immediate arrest of Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, who spent the rest of their lives in jail.
Poem: Old Phone Booth by John Herlihy
Please, someone, give me back the old phone booth,
Sitting on the street corner, like an old wisdom tooth.
From our vantage point clutching our smart phones,
The old closet could now serve as coffin for old bones.
No-one talks on the phone anymore:
They take selfies on smart phones.
