Newtown's last remaining red phone box could finally move

The familiar red telephone box on Back Lane, a fixture of Newtown's Back Lane for decades, could soon be on the move. 

After years standing largely unnoticed outside the current Regent Cinema and Steam Mill which was a former Flannel Exchange building and Post Office, the Grade II listed K6 telephone kiosk is poised for relocation to High Street.

Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council, which acquired the kiosk from BT several years ago when the telecommunications giant was decommissioning thousands nationwide, has commissioned a detailed heritage impact assessment to explore the implications of the proposed move.

The report, prepared by archaeological consultancy Trysor, reveals more insights into the history of the historically significant kiosk, as reported by MyNewtown for several years.

Far from being an original feature of Back Lane, the kiosk is a relative newcomer to the area. While K6 telephone boxes were first introduced in 1936, the distinctive St Edward's crown decoration on the kiosk dates it to post-1953, following Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Historical maps confirm it was in place by 1965, according to the report.

The telephone box achieved Grade II listed status in 1988, mainly for its value with other listed buildings around Broad Street.

The heritage assessment suggests there's little historical connection between the kiosk and the former Flannel Exchange building it stands beside. 

According to the report, when the kiosk was installed in the 1950s, the eastern end of the building had already ceased being a post office some 17 years earlier, with that function having moved to Short Bridge Street in 1936-37.

"It is possible that the telephone kiosk was installed in this location for the convenience of cinema-goers," notes the report, referring to the Regent Cinema which occupied the building after significant modifications during the inter-war period.

The proposed relocation has found unexpected support from heritage experts. Jenny Hall and Paul Sambrook of Trysor, both Members of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, said moving the telephone box would actually improve the setting of the former Flannel Exchange.

"The telephone kiosk is incongruous in its current location and detracts from the former Flannel Exchange," states the report. "Its small-scale is out of proportion with the building and it screens views of where a former entrance stair and doorway were when the eastern end was in use as a Post Office."

For the kiosk itself, relocation to High Street - an area with significantly more foot traffic - would bring new purpose to a structure that has stood unused for years, accodring to the report. The internal telephone equipment and coin box have long since been removed.

Several creative ideas have been floated for its new use, ranging from a secure device charging station to a Laura Ashley themed display celebrating Newtown's textile heritage. Other suggestions include housing a defibrillator, creating a tourist information point, or transforming it into a public art installation featuring historical photographs of the town.

Whatever its eventual use, the assessment concludes the move would have a "Low Positive impact" overall. While the kiosk would lose its connection to its original location, this disadvantage is outweighed by the benefits of preservation, improved visibility, and repurposing as a community asset, the report said.

The telephone box would remain within Newtown's Conservation Area, and the report said that its relocation would have a "Very Low Positive Impact" on the conservation area itself.

Councillors will consdier the report next week.