Listed status for payphone at centre of Great Britain

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BT installed its 100,000th payphone at Dunsop Bridge in 1992

Historic England A disused red and black public telephone box stands beside a tree-lined riverbank, surrounded by greenery on a paved area in a rural setting. — BT installed its 100,000th payphone at Dunsop Bridge in 1992

A telephone box that sits at the geographic centre of Great Britain has been given Grade II-listed status.

The KX100 kiosk at Dunsop Bridge, in Ribble Valley in Lancashire, was the 100,000th telephone kiosk to be installed in the country.

It was officially opened in June 1992 by explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who made the first call from the kiosk; he was joined by children from nearby Thornleyholme RC Primary School.

Jayne Rimmer, Historic England's north region listing team leader, said: "As part of the last generation of the public telephone box, it is a nationally significant kiosk."

The Twentieth Century Society, which champions outstanding examples of modern design, had applied for it to be listed, with campaigns director, Oli Marshall, saying he was "absolutely delighted" by their success.

A plaque says the payphone 'marks the centre of Great Britain'

Graham Hogg/Geograph A plaque that says the payphone marks the centre of Great Britain — A plaque says the payphone 'marks the centre of Great Britain'

"There's no small irony that it was the arrival of the KX100 that first spurred the Society into action back in 1985. Once the slayer of traditional red telephone boxes, that we fought vigorously to repel, now itself being given heritage protection," he said.

"While widely unloved and underappreciated in comparison to the classic red telephone boxes, the ugly duckling KX100 model has developed a cult following in recent years."

He joked: "With the Tour de France passing through Dunsop Bridge next July, we hope the kiosk will form the centrepiece of the village's celebrations, as well as being the centre of Great Britain!"

The phone box was officially opened in June 1992 by explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Twentieth Century Society Historic newspaper clipping showing a group of schoolchildren gathered around a telephone box in a village setting. The headline reads “IT’S A DIRECT LINE TO THE CENTRE OF THE KINGDOM”, with the byline “SHEILA NIXON REPORTS” beneath the photograph. — The phone box was officially opened in June 1992 by explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes

BT installed the payphone at Dunsop Bridge in 1992 and included a plaque to explain its significance, which reads: "You are calling from the BT payphone that marks the centre of Great Britain."

First introduced in 1985, the KX100 telephone kiosk design has large glass panels and was designed to be easier to clean and more accessible.

The kiosk is described as the last generation of public telephone box and received a bespoke, site-specific design by Wolff Olins featuring key places in Britain radiating from the BT logo and Dunsop Bridge.

Councillor Simon Hore, leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council, said the phone box "has a special place in local people's hearts".

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