Whiteley Bay Metro station on the Tyne and Wear Metro Network Grade II-listed kiosk was originally put in place as a trial replacement of post offices during the 1920s and is now set to see a full restoration by a volunteer community group.
The Whitley Bay Big Local has now taken on the classic piece of street furniture which sits outside the Metro station. 1928 Saw the installation of the kiosk which was one of just 50 and is known as K4 (kiosk number four) and took on the role of both public telephone, post box and stamp dispenser. The experimental K4 kiosks didn't prove to be popular and as the years went by the majority were removed and placed in museums.
Sadly over its many decades, the phone box which carries the cypher of King George V has deteriorated and been vandalised, however, the local group has been given the necessary permissions to bring it back to life once again.
Community Engagement Manager at Whitley Bay Big Local, Sarah Sutton, said: “The plans are to refurbish it to how it would have been in 1928 and to become a museum piece involving locals.
“It is all about preserving not just the heritage of this site but also the whole history.
“We want people to get posting again. Lots of young people don't use postal systems anymore.”
Metro Operations Director, John Alexander, said: “This classic red phone box is an iconic feature at our Metro station in Whitley Bay. It's fantastic to see the local community getting together to restore the kiosk to its former glory.
“It's a historic piece of street furniture, Grade II listed and a quintessentially British structure, which is quite rightly being preserved.
“We are looking forward to seeing this project make progress and wish the team Whitley Bay local every success with it.”
The group hopes to see communities with other K4s develop pen pal schemes among local school children and the group are seeking funding in order to carry out these plans.
There is a K4 on the East Somerset Railway platform at Cranmore