A rare telephone box in Bembridge – one of only a few working examples in the UK – was damaged on Friday night.
One on the glass panels was smashed and a further seven of them have been cracked.
It’s actually owned by Bembridge parish council as BT wanted to get rid of it a few years ago. The downside of this is that the parish council is responsible for the repairs to the K1 phone box.
The K1 (standing for Kiosk 1) was the first attempt at a standard telephone kiosk by what was then the Post Office, who ran the telephone network.
Grade II listed
It could well turn into an expensive business for the parish council as, due to its rarity, the K1 is also Grade II listed, meaning that any repairs have to be done with approved materials, to maintain its historic integrity.
The K1 phone box will be out of action until it is repaired.
The K1 is quite a thing as there are only about ten of them left in the whole country and only one of the few remaining ones in working condition.
Do you any info?
If anyone has further information regarding the damage please contact the parish council or the Police on 101 and state crime reference number 44110234606.
Thanks to Bembridge parish council for use of the photo.
