Phonebox library Pic: Chiara Rimella
A rescued telephone box in Brockley has re-opened its door as a community book exchange.
Open 24/7, and free for all to use, the mini-library was launched last Saturday at an event hosted by the Brockley Society, a community charity for Telegraph Hill and New Cross.
Sebastian Handley, local resident who renovated the Telephone box, said: “I didn’t just want to stick shelves in there. I worked out every nut and bolt to make it a little shrine of magic. I packed extra lights into the ceiling void, put a yellow filter on the down-light and laid a carpet on the floor, so if you stumble across it at night it really is a startling sight, like a miniature light house!”
The book exchange, at the corner of Lewisham Way and Tyrwhitt Road, is one of three phone booths that have been adopted by the community thanks to BT’s ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme.
The initiative sees disused telephone boxes that are costly to maintain sold to charities or local authorities for a nominal fee of £1.
Phonebox library Pic: Chiara Rimella
Dre MC, Brockley resident and participant in Brockley Max arts festival, said: “It’s innovative to say the least, ambitious as well. At least it preserves the telephone boxes in Brockley – I might even be inclined to donate.”
All local residents are encouraged to leave books for others in what Handley calls “as much a social experiment as functioning library”.
As he inscribed in the kiosk: “It’s not what you get, it’s what you leave behind.”
The other two listed kiosks are at the edges of Brockley Conservation Area on Lewisham Way, one at the corner of Wickham Road and the other at Breakspears Road. For the moment, these two are vacant.
The telephone boxes are Grade II listed “buildings” and were designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, the designer of Battersea Power Station and Tate Modern in the 1920s.
The Brockley Box Collective, a group of local residents, has been searching for a new function for the remaining kiosks since they were acquired in March this year. Different options discussed included the possibility of turning them into wi-fi hubs, greenhouses or art spaces.
Last month, all three telephone booths were used by art collective Senza Fili Project for their ‘Connect’ exhibition at Deptford X art festival. The installations explored the irony by which people isolate themselves in secluded spaces in order to communicate with others.
Dear Brockley box people. Hi Im Phil art Ambassador for South East London Arts Network. We are planning an exhibition for the Brockley Boxes in the new year. the exhibition will include panoramic acetate drawings from the top floor of the Tate Modern created by SELAN FOR World Mental Health day and will include an evening event music refreshmentsand viewing of the drawings by torch light.The plan is to call the exhibition “Tate Brockley Telephone Boxes” I am researching into BT and Tate Modern to see if they would like an input, though no responce at present. Could you send round these innicial details times to be confirmed. I hope to include the mini libray boxes as part of the show.
The middle box nearest Lewisham college seems to have been adopted by a home less person/persons? as bedding is left there during the day so as we have no wish to disturb what could be the only shelter the homeless person may have, so we will not be using that particular box I wonder if it could be stocked with useful items toiletries and the like for those in need who may be homeless in our lovely area? Just what the protocol is? would like to know what the Brock Soc thinks would be good to know. Even something quite small may be appropriate.
Festive Greetings and thanks for providing a social cultural touch, stone that is the Brockley mini Library.I have met several people there already. Best festive wishes from Phil Baird.
This is nothing new, suprisingly we’ve had one in the village of Beesd, in the Netherlands for 5 years. Just google telefooncel Beesd.
dear brockley box group organisers.
would be extremely grateful if u would kindly contact me re any details of the stages etc and details of setting up a box project.
thanks with gratitude for your time.best wishes margaret