London Shoes
  • Home
  • Recent Blogs
  • Categories
  • Archives
    • Archived Blogs
    • Monthly Archive
  • About Me
  • References
  • Reader’s Feedback
  • Contact Me
Menu

London’s – Historic “Police-Call Posts”

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Geoff Clements Posted in Crime & Punishment, Emergency Services - Police/Fire/Ambulance, Street - Fixtures & Fittings, Streets .

 

For my culture day out this week, my London Shoes had me seeking out a topic that I knew very little about, but a subject that played a massive part in the mechanics around how the City was policed, in times gone by……….the subject matter being “Police-Call Posts”!!!!

I personally had no idea of the existence of these ‘police-call posts’, and having now done a day of exploring, I can understand why, as most of them are so well hidden you would probably never even notice them.

Back in the day from the late 1920’s and right through to the late 1960’s, these Police ‘call-posts’ (along with Police Telephone Boxes), were an extremely important and an essential tool for the Metropolitan Police right up until the time when advancements in technology saw the introduction of personal radios and walkie-talkies etc.

Police ‘call-post’s were not just for officers on the beat, they were also a means for the public to use to contact the police – an alternative to 999 when people didn’t have access to their own telephones, and years before the advent of mobiles.

Police ‘call-posts’ in appearance, were small cast-iron towers that were manufactured in the late 1920’s and sited throughout the City of London. The posts enabled the public to call a Police station and were also used for the station to contact the ‘Bobbies’ on the beat in that area. They had a red signal light on the top, which would flash if the Constable were required to contact the station. They had an upper hatch that opened to give access to the telephone; a middle door that opened horizontally to provide a writing surface, and lower door opened to a storage cupboard containing first aid kit and other useful items.

They were originally painted light blue in colour, (which was the ‘City of London’s official colour) so that they could be easily identified and located on the busy London streets– but as time progressed, there was a trend to paint them dark blue, in line with the Metropolitan Police brandings.

In 1953, and at their peak, there were over 600 police ‘call-posts’ and police telephone boxes scattered all over London – but following their decommissioning in the 1960’s – there are only a handful left on London’s city streets, as a historic reminder of a world, before mobile phones and radios came along and changed modern policing.

The “8” ‘call-posts’ that remain today, were granted Grade II listed status and were fully renovated, and restored to their original design, and even re-painted to their original light-blue colour – They can be seen at the following locations:

> Victoria Embankment – (close to the City boundary dragons)
 > Aldgate – (outside St Botolph’s Church)
 > Liverpool Street – (the east side of the station)
 > Friday Street – (at the corner of Queen Victoria Street)
 > Walbrook – (close to the Mansion House)
 > Guildhall Yard – (just off Gresham Street)
 > St Martin’s le Grand – (at the entrance to Postman’s Park)
 > Old Broad Street – (right by Adam’s Court)

Turning specifically to the old iconic larger blue Police Telephone boxes, then most people are likely to immediately think of the Tardis from the Doctor Who TV series. Whilst the inside of Dr.Who’s Tardis is a huge time travelling machine with lots of space inside to move around in – the reality is that police Phone Boxes themselves were extremely cramped inside, only big enough to squeeze in a policeman, telephone, first aid kit, fire extinguisher a small heater, a stool.

Again, these telephone boxes were decommissioned in the 1960’s following advancements in radio transmission – and although some of these old blue boxes were bought up by private collectors – there is now only 1 that remains standing on London’s streets, and that is just outside Earls Court tube station – where it was erected there in 1997 purely for nostalgia purposes – and it has become a major attraction for Doctor Who enthusiasts.

So – my challenge for this week’s culture gig, was for my London Shoes to seek out these particular landmarks – from a bygone time – and appreciate the history behind them.

Having sought out all these iconic landmarks, I stopped off at the “The Counting House” in the Cornhill district of the City – for the mandatory ‘cheeky’ beer.The building itself has only been a boozer since 1998 – It was originally built in 1893 as Prescott’s Bank – which eventually following numerous mergers, ended up being taken over by Nat West Bank in 1970. The building’s actual foundations are said to sit on the north sleeper wall of a 2000 year-old Roman basilica!!!

Hope you enjoy the history and the accompanying photos

The renovated Grade II listed Police “Call-Post” – located on the north side of the Victoria Embankment

 

Another angle of the Police Call-Post on the Victoria Embankment – looking south down the Thames

 

Me – at the Police ‘Call Post’ located at the Victoria Embankment

 

 

The Police ‘Call-Post’ at Guildhall Yard

The Police ‘Call-Post’ at Guildhall Yard – with the Guildhall in the background

 

Me – at the Police ‘Call-Post’ – Guildhall Yard

 

The Police ‘Call-Post’ located beside St.Botolphs Church – Aldgate. There is a lot of renovation work taking place at the church – but of course, the ‘Call-Post’ cant be removed because of its Grade II listed status

 

The Police ‘Call-Post’ situated at Walbrook – near the Bank of England

 

Me – at the Police ‘Call-Post’ at Walbrook

 

The Police ‘Call-Post’ situated at Adam’s Court, off of Old Broad Street

 

Me – at the Police ‘Call-Post’ situated at Adam’s Court, off of Old Broad Street

 

Another view of the Police ‘Call-Post’ situated at Adam’s Court, off of Old Broad Street

 

The Police ‘Call-Post’ just outside the eastern exit of Liverpool Street Station

 

Another view of the Police ‘Call-Post’ just outside the eastern exit of Liverpool Street Station

 

The Police ‘Call-Post’ located in St. Martins-le-Grand – nr St. Paul’s Cathedral

 

Another view of the Police ‘Call-Post’ located in St. Martins-le-Grand – nr St. Paul’s Cathedral

 

Me – at the Police ‘Call-Post’ located in St. Martins-le-Grand – nr St. Paul’s Cathedral

 

The Police ‘Call-Post’ in Friday Street – just off of Queen Victoria Street

The original signage that was displayed on the Police ‘Call-Posts’

The signage now displayed on the renovated Police ‘Call-Posts’

 

What the remaining Police ‘Call-Posts’ looked like before they were given Grade II preservation status, and were renovated to their original specification.

 

The old style iconic Police Telephone Box – situated immediately outside Earls Court tube station – erected for nostalgic purposes

 

Another view of the old style iconic Police Telephone Box – situated immediately outside Earls Court tube station – erected for nostalgic purposes

 

Another view of the old style iconic Police Telephone Box – situated immediately outside Earls Court tube station – erected for nostalgic purposes

‘The Counting House’ pub at no.50 Cornhill – a building steeped in history

 

Me – necking down a ‘cheeky’ lager at ‘The Counting House’ pub at no.50 Cornhill – a building steeped in history

 

Me – necking down a second ‘cheeky’ lager at ‘The Counting House’ pub at no.50 Cornhill – a building steeped in history

 

 

 

 

 

Related

8 Comments
« London’s – Iconic Red Telephone Boxes
London’s “Christmas Lights” 2017 – & the history of the displays »

8 Responses

  1. Richard R Slater says
    January 12, 2018 at 12:23 am

    Most things in life which I appreciate such as the theatre, classic cars or photography are fairly easy to explain. However my unquenchable passion for this city is more difficult to define. It is if every brick of the place has something to say. You could spend a life time studying its many aspects and still not scratch the surface. It is if everywhere else is “on a low light” I am never there thinking I would rather be some where else. To put it briefly London is as much a part of me as blood snd bones and I suspect it is the same for you. Keep up the good work.

    Reply
  2. James M says
    October 1, 2018 at 10:38 pm

    I just came across this post. As my grandfather was a City of London police officer from that era (his number was 143) this article was interesting to me. I have a police key of his to this day and have often wondered which post it unlocked, or better still, unlocks now. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. Gary says
    September 25, 2019 at 2:56 pm

    We have one here at the College of Policing, it was restored in 1982 so the colours are not original. Other than that it is in good condition and still has its phone. Think it was originally at Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station. Are all these now grade 2 listed?

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      September 25, 2019 at 7:50 pm

      Hi Gary,

      Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to contact me regarding this particular blog – I do hope that you enjoyed reading it and found it interesting.

      In reply to your question about whether all these old Call-Posts are now GradeII listed – Im not entirely sure – but I do know that all of the 8 situated within the City of London at the locations stipulated below,are:-

      Victoria Embankment – south side, close to the City boundary dragons
      Aldgate – outside St Botolph’s Church
      Liverpool Street – east side entrance
      Friday Street – at the corner of Queen Victoria Street
      Walbrook – close to the Mansion House
      Guildhall Yard – off Gresham Street
      St Martin’s le Grand – by the entrance to Postman’s Park
      Old Broad Street – by Adam’s Court

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers…..GEOFF (London Shoes)

      Reply
  4. Luciana says
    January 8, 2020 at 2:58 am

    I just discovered the existence of these Police Call Posts and I hope I can pay a visit to at least one of them if I ever visit London again. They are such a nice sight.
    Thanks for taking the time to learn about this topic and explain it, it was an interesting article to read.
    Cheers from Argentina.

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      January 8, 2020 at 8:42 am

      Hello Luciana – thank you so much for taking the time to contact ‘London Shoes’with your feedback – I’m so pleased that you enjoyed this particular article on the old Police Call Boxes – I certainly enjoyed covering it off.
      There are over 100 blogs on my ‘London Shoes’ website, covering all sorts of different topics on London’s more unusual bits of history – which you might also find interesting, so why not check them out when you have the time. (www.londonshoes.blog)
      Once again – thank you for your comments – really appreciate it.

      Kind regards……..Geoff (London Shoes)

      Reply
  5. Shawn Levy says
    July 9, 2020 at 5:18 am

    Hi, I walk past a Police Call Box every day, its situated at Piccadilly Circus which you seem to have missed out, this too has also been refurbished as it was in a right state a few years back. Also I’ve seen one at Grosvenor Square, outside the old American Embassy some time ago. When I get a chance I’ll check to see if it’s still there.

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      July 9, 2020 at 8:26 am

      Hi Shawn,
      Thank you for taking the time & trouble to contact my London Shoes – and I’m glad that you enjoyed my Police Call Posts blog.

      I certainly wasn’t aware of the one you mention in Piccadilly, I will have to look out for it next time I’m down that way, so that I can take a photo of it and add it to this blog. Alternatively, if you want to take a photo and ping it over to me then I would be very grateful. Similarly, I shall keep an eye out for the one in Grosvenor Square, that you mention.

      Cheers…..Geoff (London Shoes)

      Reply

Leave a comment

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Walk with us on Social Media



Reader’s Feedback

"If some one wishes to be updated with unusual histories of London then they must pay a visit to this site and be up to date with it all the time"

- Leonida (Feb 18)

Read More...

Recent Posts

  • End of Year 2020-Review – looking back at ‘London Shoe’s’ activities throughout 2020
  • *London Street Art-Pt 1 the “Mile End-Mural”
  • * The “Upminster Windmill” – its renovation and the lifting & fitting of its 4 newly restored ‘Sails’
  • *London’s “Lost Music Venues”-Part 5-the Vortex & the Roxy ‘Punk’ Clubs of Soho
  • * Remembrance Sunday 2020 & the amazing “Poppy Cabs”

London Shoes ©2021

Privacy Policy
Site by So Friendly Web Design