Camden Town Station Box

[markofrani]

Here's a photo of what looks like a Mark3 box outside Camden Town tube station in the 1960s...

Couldn't see this box on the lists, but I may have missed it.

[Mark]

Nice find Markofrani. I make that box N1, and the bank is now a HSBC.

Difficult to get an exact view because the one you posted appears to be from high up, and the current one has loads of people milling around!

[domvar]

There is a colour picture of that Mk 3 box somewhere as well (it looks like it has mud splattered over it in the colour one).

Still no pics of a mk 3 older than 1962 so far

[petewilson]

Is this the photo that you mean?

There is a colour picture of that Mk 3 box somewhere as well (it looks like it has mud splattered over it in the colour one).

Still no pics of a mk 3 older than 1962 so far

[domvar]

That's the one

[hb88banzai]

Looking at the current street view, they have now significantly widened the sidewalks (narrowing the streets) and lengthened the triangle in front of the entrance so the Met List measurements no longer hold.

Original Box Site would be about where the electrical boxes are --



Site Street View URL:  http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=kentish+town+road,+London&hl=en&ll=51.539111,-0.142481&spn=0.00389,0.007499&sll=51.523109,-0.206898&sspn=0.001218,0.002476&hnear=Kentish+Town+Rd,+London,+United+Kingdom&t=m&layer=c&cbll=51.539111,-0.142481&panoid=UjFI1LA5ajACVp6qYlBDkg&cbp=12,283.43,,0,5.71&z=17

[hb88banzai]

It's always been a bit of a puzzle why early photos of the corner where the Mark 3 was located never showed a Box or even the earlier Post. Shots like this one from the early 1950s--



Well, now it's plain why - it's because until some time after 1955 the Box/Post wasn't even located on this corner. Before the sidewalk was enlarged and the Mark 3 installed, N1 (most likely only as a Post) was situated on the west corner of the intersection, across Camden High Street from the Tube Station.

It was on this corner --



Original Site URL:  http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=kentish+town+road,+London&hl=en&ll=51.538968,-0.142661&spn=0.001909,0.009023&sll=51.523109,-0.206898&sspn=0.001218,0.002476&hnear=Kentish+Town+Rd,+London,+United+Kingdom&t=m&layer=c&cbll=51.538968,-0.142657&panoid=voeciTdoWyoVA2Ep-Gmo6w&cbp=12,279.47,,0,0.25&z=17

I don't have a photo of this Post as of yet, but here is an excerpt from the 1954-1955 OS Map showing the original location (noting that Cambden Town Station is at the top of the intersection on the map) --



It's listed here as a "PCB" for Police Call Box rather than "PTP" for Police Telephone Pillar, but this was not at all unusual before the 1960s. Ironically, this means the above 1950s photo was probably taken from right next to the Post.

Here is an OS Map excerpt from 1970-1971 which shows the Box's final location in front of the Tube Station on the now enlarged sidewalk --

[petewilson]

Any idea what that object (Post?) is on the right hand side of the box?
Looks like a shower head to me!!  

[domvar]

Looks like the picture is torn to me

[Volpone]

It really does, doesn't it?  It seems too clean to be a tear in paper though.  I wonder if it could be the negative or the slide (if it is a print from slide film)?  Still, it is odd, how there just happens to be a separation in the railing right where the crack runs.  Makes me think it is an actual feature in the pavement.  The other pictures are no help so I can't venture a guess. 

[dr hue]

Here's another from the set ( which reply 3 ) is from.

I took this around 1972 with a Boots Instamatic 126 using Fuji negative film.

I attended secondary school in Camden Town, London at the time.

Not sure what the wires are around the top light ?

[Teppic]

Looking at the lamp post to the left of the box, I'd say that the "wires" are either two lamp posts behind the box, or one lamp post with two light fittings at the top.

[tony farrell]

one lamp post with two light fittings at the top.

That's how I see it too - a 'double-headed' lamp post; the kind of lamp post seen on numerous traffic islands at busy road junctions.

T

[Davros Skaro]

one lamp post with two light fittings at the top.

That's how I see it too - a 'double-headed' lamp post; the kind of lamp post seen on numerous traffic islands at busy road junctions.

T

I agree, look at the lamp post to the left of the Police Box, the top section is exactly the same, with one reversed indicating two lights on one post.

Chris.

[lym]

Oh wow, this is a rare treat! Love the pic