The renovation
The phone box museum is housed in a decommissioned K6 phone box which has been restored to its former glory
The K6
An iconic British design
The K6 telephone box, one of Britain’s most iconic designs, was introduced in 1935 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. Designed by renowned architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the K6 was a streamlined update to his earlier K2 model, featuring a cast iron frame, domed roof and distinctive red colour.
Unlike its predecessors, the K6 was the first telephone box to be installed nationwide, bringing public telephones to towns and villages across the UK. By the 1940s, thousands had been placed in urban and rural areas.
Funding
When the project was first devised, it was a small project to repaint the phone box and add a guided walks leaflet around the village.
However, a community grant application to FIPL was successful, allowing for the scope of the project to be widened considerably.
A full restoration of the box was now possible and has allowed for professionals to be hired where necessary (reglazing, hedge laying) and for the licensing of images and documents that you can find on this site.
Stage 1
Decommissioning
The phone box was one of two in the parish earmarked for decommissioning and removal in 2022.
The parish council officially adopted the two boxes for community projects.
The Bal Lane box was formally decommisioned by BT later that year with the phone mechanism and electricity supply removed.
The box itself was in good shape however the paintwork and glazing was bearing the brunt of its many years of service.
Stage 2
Prep
The phone box was first sanded down by volunteers to remove the many layers of paint accrued over the years.
At this stage all damaged glass panes and plastic panes which had been replaced over time were removed ready for re-glazing.
Only a few of the original glass panes were salvageable.
The box was then given a final sand to give it a smoother surface to paint.
The original paint was likely lead based, so protective equipment was needed for the internal sanding.
The sanded box was then primed ready for repainting.
Stage 3
Repainting & glazing
BT supplied the original paint: red for the box, black for the base and gold for the crown.
Strengthened safety glass replacement panes and frames were sourced, which was by far the largest expense of the whole project.
The box was repainted with its iconic red paint and reglazed.
Stage 4
Telephone to museum
The original Telephone sign was replaced with a replica sign to complete the transformation.
Stage 5
The surroundings
Bulbs were planted over winter in the hedgerow behind the museum, so in spring the museum will be framed by seasonal blooms.
The hedge has been laid professionally to create a traditional Devon hedge backdrop
The grand unveiling
The museum is now open, ready for visitors