Hmmm, Nottingham.

I think I can say with some degree of certainty at this point that Nottingham did indeed have proper kiosk type Police Boxes from a fairly early date.

In just looking at the OS Maps, with a rather cursory and random search, I was able to find at least nine PCB/Box marked objects and one PTP/Post, all dating from 1954 or earlier (no OS Maps of the right scale seem to be available for the area from the 1930s and 1940s), with most continuing on into at least the late 1960s. Interestingly, the Old Market Square Box that started this thread only shows up in the 1960s and later OS Maps, so it appears to have been a late arrival.

In looking at other sources, it would appear that the original Nottingham Boxes were shed types which were installed as early as the mid-1920s, after Crawley's success with the concept in Sunderland and Newcastle. In fact, Nottingham was one of the cites with installed Police Box Systems that Gilbert Mackenzie Trench and Assistant Commissioner George Abiss visited in early 1929, when they went on a fact finding mission while finalizing the Met's own kiosk design and Box System prior to the final experimental installations at Richmond and Wood Green. They also visited Salford, Manchester, Sheffield, and Birmingham.

I don't have the specifics of the Nottingham system when they visited it at hand - I'll have to look up my copy of their report. According to John Bunker, however, by the late 1920s Nottingham had "a number of timber built boxes (7 feet 6 inches by 5 feet 8 inches) operating with blue signal lights."

Nottingham apparently also had some 100 "call points" on the streets (probably of the pull alarm type) which were connected to both the Fire Brigade and the City Police, who were thinking of installing their own proprietary Pillars (with telephones) to replace these as late as 1937, despite the GPO's own PA1 Pillars then being in common use throughout most of the provincial Police Forces by that time.

It looks like this page has not had a up date for sometime so I thought I would post this non Tardis type Police box in Nottingham.



I remember it well there was a few around Nottingham at the time.

its on the corner of king Edwards street NG1 1EU about 1980 just before they (who they are who knows) had them pulled down It was next to the power sub station now a climbing centre.
I remember passing to as a kid going to see my grandparents and years later using it as a young Copper in Nottingham. There was one in Snention area of Nottingham but unable to find any pics of it, attached to the Police station now closed.

Very cool!

Certainly a better photo of one of the early type Nottingham Boxes than I've been able to find so far. The 1984 OS map shows it was gone by then.

Really great shot.

I've taken the liberty of merging all the Nottingham topics and threads together.

This is the best ground photo of an older type Nottingham Box I'd been able to find before Senseidale's wonderful pic --



The Police Box is the smaller shed-like structure on the left hand side of this photo (though note that it's actually a bit larger than a Sunderland/Newcastle Box). It was the Box on The Promenade (aka the 'Prom') in the Lenton district of Nottingham, a triangle of land at the junction of Castle Boulevard, Sherwin Road, Willoughby Street, and Abbey Bridge. The building in the centre is the Tram Shed (shelter) at the bottom of Willoughby Street, which we're looking up on the right.

Hi all I was talking to an buddy who is a collector (as I am) of Police memorabilia last night over a few beers and we got  to the talking about police boxes in particular the old market sq Box, that is as we all know now is outside Police HQ, to cut a long story shot my Buddy would like replica building, he is going to make a few calls to  a contact at Police HQ so we can get measurements close up pics for reference I don't think the build will start until the warmer months, but will draw up build plans over the coming weeks. I will start a new tread,
Q where is the best place to post the build when  it gets started.


So on to the thread i was trying to reference  pics of said box out there  on the net, but I came across this tread on a "History of Nottingham site".
There was a police box (shed) that was next to Trent Bridge and was situated immediately after Turneys Leather works, now luxury apartments, not very good pics,  according to the thread it was there until the 1960's also there are other Boxes/ post around but I can find any photo's.

Dale

update on a post in June 15 the box/  kiosk that was on King Edwards Street in now in the hands of a ex police officer and collector, I will try to use my buddy who know the owner and get some pics, maybe in future make a replica of this one who knows.

That is great news Dale, I'm glad there is another real police box that is safe and still in existance, and seeing some pictures of this one would be brill.

As for the one at Police HQ, when I visited they couldn't find the key so I couldn't check it out fully. If you do go ahead with a replica, how about putting it in "Build Diaries, Other Props"? Or perhaps it would be better suited to "Poice Boxes, Non TARDIS like" because there would be the reference information about the original that would be suited to that topic area?

Hi Mark
I trust all is well, when I get the go ahead to go up to see the box at Sherwood HQ and take close up pics and measurements ect if you are free you can  pop along at the same time, if my memory serves the key that is issued to all serving officers wil fit the lock on the box that is if they have not  changed the barrel, I was issues one as a young contsable many years ago in an other life but alas had to hand all my kit back apart from a few bits I still have.
I will PM you with dates ect.
Regards Dale

Cheers Dale, I am definitely up for that, and there is the "Burnt Stump" next door for a beer afterwards!

I agree with you about the keys opening all police buildings. When issued to me up in Sheffield, the key was still referred to as a "box key", and childishly I rushed off to the town Hall police box (still about today) to check it worked.

Sent you a pm by the way

Hi Mark PM sent
It a pity you don't have the key, but some stuff you can get away with keeping and things you can not, my key and warrant card are deaf no no's
Dale

A late up date of this old kiosk type Police box  from King Edwards Street Nottingham. I know it went in to private ownership, how ever doing a little detective work with PICA contacts, sadly the box fell in a poor state of repair so was demolished.
on the other side of the coin the lamp and Police sign are still with us and i am making enquires in getting my hand on them for the right price along with any other pieces that remain.

Dale

Sad story, I know that pain close enough. Be interested to see the mentioned items pictured on these pages if the price is right if course.

Hi Mark
I will keep you up dated, I know the chap who is selling them, he sells on eBay he is ex police and always want top dollar for everything, and we must still meet up for that beer.
Dale

I found this on Face Book taken  when Nottingham Forest won the european cup 1979 80 not the best screen shot but you can see the Police Box

HI found this picture on my trawl through old Nottingham pics
This police Box very similar to the King Edward Street Box could be found on the corner of the Rope Walk and Derby Rd next to the the city boundary marker.



Dale