Image credit: Simon Burchell / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2022-04-22 ↗
The Old Police Telephone Callbox at St Martin’s Le Grand
St Martin’s Le Grand · St Paul’s → Newgate → Smithfield → Clerkenwell · Street furniture / police communications
Story
Before the advent of portable radios and mobile phones, police officers needed fixed points from which to contact their station. London developed a network of police boxes and telephone call points. A small survivor, located near Postman’s Park, offers a glimpse into how that system once operated. Do not expect the iconic large blue box made famous by Doctor Who. This is a far more discreet piece of street furniture, primarily designed for police telephone communication. For an officer patrolling on foot, such call points significantly shortened the distance between the street and headquarters. Depending on their design and the era, they could also provide a means for members of the public to summon assistance. The interest of this callbox lies precisely in how easily it can be overlooked. London preserves letter boxes, fountains, vents, posts, and service cabinets that act as small technological fossils. Here, within a minute, you can move from the moving human stories of the Watts Memorial to a piece of the everyday infrastructure of 20th-century policing in London.
What to look for
Note the rectangular shape of the box, any surviving lettering or inscriptions, and how it blends with the other pavement furniture.
Secret detail
This callbox is not a themed reproduction for tourists; it is a genuine, original element that was part of London's street-level police communication network.
Where exactly
Look for the small historic structure around St Martin’s Le Grand/Aldersgate, next to Postman’s Park.
Orientation
As you exit Postman’s Park towards St Martin’s Le Grand, focus on the pavement furniture rather than the building façades.
Why it matters
This small callbox is a physical testament to the technologies that enabled the police to maintain order in a growing city. It represents a crucial phase in the evolution of urban communication before the digital age.
Access & opening
Externally visible; temporary street works may obstruct it.
Free
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Public pavement.