London, England.

One of the first things we noticed on our first visit to London was the iconic red phone booths that have become an instantly recognizable sign of British telephone systems. Like the box in the image above, in the age of the ubiquitous cellular telephone, many of the boxes have been repurposed, in this case, to become an artistic floral design booth.

According to Sir Gordon Bennett’s website here, the original design first appeared in 1921, but the boxes now found are typical of a later design released in 1935. Though popular now as a British icon, there was some controversy, especially in more rural areas where the boxes were eventually painted in more muted colors befitting the landscapes in which they were placed.

On our walk about London, we passed several of the repurposed phone boxes, but this one near Hyde Park contains a functioning telephone. As I approached the box to check it out, I imagined it was another non-working symbol of an age gone by.

Inside the box, I found a more modern design phone than I expected. The heavy-duty telephone features the ability to accept credit cards as well as coins. Today, the red boxes are here to stay, but with many and varied functions, not just decorations as in the opening photo. In my research for this post, I found an article discussing the varied ways these iconic boxes have been repurposed.

The red phone box will likely continue to play a role in British culture, even as its primary function as a public call box diminishes. The boxes are a reminder of a bygone era, and they have a certain charm and nostalgia that appeals to many people. The red phone box may eventually become a purely decorative object, but it is also possible that it will find new ways to be useful in the 21st century.

On this All Hallows’ Eve, a night of magic, when ghosts and goblins roam, it is a time to let loose and have some fun and leave your fears at home.

John Steiner