Three “rare” Co Armagh telephone kiosks regarded as “iconic” street furniture could now be listed for their historical significance.
The Department for Communities (DfC) wrote to Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council on December 5, 2025 seeking views on the proposed listing of the three telephone kiosks.
Those under consideration include one at 37 Moyrourkan Road, Markethill, a second adjacent to 63 Clare Road, Tandragee and a third near 27 Main Street, Tynan.
The matter was brought before a meeting of the Planning & Regulatory Services Committee on January 7, 2026.
DfC in their surveys, describe the telephone kiosks as a “K6 telephone kiosk constructed to Sir Giles Gilbert Scott design of 1935” to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V, which was then discontinued in 1968.
All three structures are cast iron construction, painted red with glazing to three elevations and a solid panel to the fourth.
The interior and detailing are largely intact and all are well maintained and structurally sound.
Additionally, the Moyrourkan Road kiosk bears the St Edward’s Crown within a slotted design, which dates manufacture to between 1955 and 1965. The glazing is predominantly glass with only a few Perspex panels, and it is noted the telephone equipment is present. The kiosk is very well maintained, both leather hinge straps are intact, and the high-level signage is intact.
The District Council survey of the kiosk found that it was manufactured by the Lion Foundry of Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, a firm established in 1880 as ‘Jackson, Brown, Hudson and Cuthbert’, adopting the Lion name in 1885.
Of the Clare Road kiosk, the survey said: “The precise date of installation is not known, but the fact that the kiosk is located close to what for many years was the local post office, suggests that it dates from sometime between 1936 and 1949.
“It is possible that the present kiosk replaced an earlier one, for a ‘telephone call office’, (a phrase that during the early 20th century frequently denoted kiosks), is noted as having been established at the same post office in November 1934.
“If so, then the original kiosk must have been one of the ‘K3’ models in use between 1929-35, whose relatively fragile concrete construction resulted in virtually all eventually being replaced.”
Likewise, the Tynan kiosk is also date unknown regarding installation, but according to the survey “appears to have superseded an earlier kiosk which was located at what was formerly the local post office on Abbey Street (present no.18)”.
It adds: “Presumably the decision to install the present kiosk (and remove the old one) was taken after the post office relocated to no.27 Main Street, a move which took place sometime between 1951 and 1977, probably after 1955.”
This particular box has also been re-purposed for community use, providing local information, bird seed etc alongside an external village information board.
DfC in their evaluation consider that the kiosks are an “iconic piece of street furniture which were once common but are now almost entirely replaced by modern mobile phone use”.
The department also noted in their letter to council that while “there is no right of appeal” against listing an owner or occupier can write to the Department or their local Council at any time, if they consider that the building is not of special architectural or historic interest sufficient to justify its listing.
They also note that the views of the Council should be submitted within six weeks from the date of the letter, with the timeframe for responses, therefore closing on January 16, 2026.
Provisionally, Council said that while it should also be noted that it has no objections to the proposed listings it would be supportive of the property owner if they were to raise any concerns in relation to the proposed listing of these structures.
The Council’s draft response is now going through the ratification process and if any subsequent matters arise as a result of this process, a further letter will be issued in due course.
