Police Public Call Box

So, this is where the TARDIS design stemmed from; a piece of street furniture from way back when. Talk about them and post up your photos here.

TARDIS Builders :: General :: The Police Public Call Box :: The Continuing Saga of Crich... Page 1 of 5 » Jump to page   Go     Author Topic: The Continuing Saga of Crich... (Read 5,115 times) Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Thread Started on Apr 21, 2005, 4:03am » A quick recap, for those just tuning in. Crich Tramway Village have the last existing Mark Two Metropolitan Police Telephone Box - and it's in need of urgent renovation. Despite publicity from the Police Box website run by Pete Darrington, and the Box being featured on the BBC Website, the Box remains in an appalling condition, and is getting worse, and is heading for a terminal point with gathering rapidity. In the last installment of this saga, Crich had repeatedly failed to get in contact with Ward Westwater, and had decided to go it alone with getting the box repaired. They'd "given up" with Ward, who apparently never answered emails or letters or calls.... EPISODE FOUR: Dale Who acts: So I emailed Ward, to see what the situation was - and in less than a week had a reply from Ward, saying Crich were being very weird to deal with. So, I've contacted the Council and Ward to say I'm happy to act as an intermediary between themselves and Crich, and putting the Council straight on a few points Crich have raised. It seems like this Box is sitting atop a nest of vipers... and yours truly is currently standing in the Box... I'll keep you updated... Dale. The box as was last year. It's now a LOT worse. « Last Edit: Apr 25, 2005, 12:13pm by Admin account » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Mark Lord President Wants a real Police Box... member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 905 Karma: 382 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #1 on Apr 21, 2005, 11:23pm » Speaking of standing in the box.... I visited Crich this Wednesday with the sole purpose of measuring it. I found the staff really helpful, with special mention to Cara Marchent who gave me the ok to pop along with my step ladder! To be honest, I was expecting it to be a lot worse than I actually found it. I do have about 50 ish piccy's (taken on camera phone but not bad quality) of various details but don't know how to include them herev I have a question about this box, which I'm hoping you can explain Dale:- The Criche box is an authentic cast-concrete Met box from London as was the Barnet By-Pass one, but if you look at pictures of both, the roof structure on the Barnet one appears to have higher stacks. Also the first stack on the Barnet box lines up with the sign lintels while its the second stack that lines up on the Criche one? Now I know that each individual box had minor differances but after looking at other "Original" box pictures (some on the other Rebuilders site), they all have the Barnet style roof. What's your view, is the Criche one real? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #2 on Apr 22, 2005, 1:57am » It's definitely real - it used to stand in Tooting, and the Police actually asked for it back some years ago; but Crich wouldn't sell... pity considering the state they've let it get into. I'll have a look at the signs/roof stack symmetry once I've had some sleep - and I've got a rather telling update on this story... with an odd and somewhat surprising ending... suffice to say the Box WILL get redone, and this year. « Last Edit: Apr 22, 2005, 10:52am by Admin account » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #3 on Apr 22, 2005, 1:37pm » Right! Contacted Crich, and to their credit they've finally put someone in charge of handling the project. I'm meeting with them in a couple of weeks. contacted Ward, and he's still moving on with the project as well, and is still willing to fund the repairs to the box, which is excellent news! As for me... I'm now the middle man! We're getting quotes for the restoration of the box segments affected by concrete cancer, and to facilitate future survival the box will have it's windows restored to the hinged opening windows it originally had, to facilitate ventilation of the box, which is very important! The Phone wiring and the lamp wiring have already been restored, which is also great news; so the lamp now flashes once more - however the external bell system (supplementing the interior Box phone bell) put on a nearby pylon remains in use so the Inspectors can hear the Police Box phone when it rings! It's is my firm intention to have all these repairs carried out THIS year, and to have the Box sealed and fully repainted to it's proper blue and white colour scheme, with a fresh coat of paint inside the box as well. See, it's easy to do up a Police Box... all you need is a Time Lord willing to stand in the middle... Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Mark Lord President Wants a real Police Box... member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 905 Karma: 382 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #4 on Apr 22, 2005, 8:04pm » Thats great news. I noticed the interior light was working when I visited. Will the box have to be removed for its restoration and will the door be re-hung with the panels outermost? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #5 on Apr 25, 2005, 2:49am » No, it will be restored at it's current location, and the door is hung correctly!! Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Mark Lord President Wants a real Police Box... member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 905 Karma: 382 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #6 on Apr 25, 2005, 7:02am » Hows that On a couple of photo's of extinct boxes that have open doors then inside is smooth with panels outside. On the Crich box its reversed, why would there be panels that match the outside architecture on the inside of the box? That said I did notice that the window is the correct way round. Do you think it could have been put on wrong many years ago? (Cool, figured out how to post piccy's) The next one isn't that clear but you can see it has a smooth door. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #7 on Apr 25, 2005, 11:39am » It's easily, and entirely possible it was done wrongly in the past. Hmmmmmm, have to have a look at that more closely!! Received a new quote this morning, and although I can't discuss it yet as Ward needs to know it first... it's not terribly good news. Oh, and English Heritage want it to "die gracefully", so I'm told. ::added in edit mode:: The combined budgets of Ward and the CTV are MORE than enough to renovate the ailing box, with enough left over to do it all again! Incidentally, for Mark... having done a quick bit of phoning, we can get the door hung the right way round in there too!! « Last Edit: Apr 25, 2005, 12:11pm by Admin account » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged whitestar1969 Gallifreyan member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 41 Karma: 3 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #8 on Apr 26, 2005, 9:12am » Hi, Does anybody know if this box ever had a St. John's Ambulance sign on the door? Last time I went I forgot to look for old screw holes, either on the inside or outside, indicating that a sign was once there. Will a replacement sign be included in the restoration or will the box only be painted and left as is in terms of the signage. However I think it would be nice if the original glass telephone sign was left in place and not replaced with a replica or restored version. Has any decision been made about that Dale? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #9 on Apr 27, 2005, 1:10pm » The Crich Box, as far as I'm aware, never had the first aid kit installed, so wouldn't have had the SJA badge on the door either. With regards to the box signs etc etc: We're not revamping, we're preserving. The Police Box signs will be left as they currently are, and there's nothing at all wrong with the phone door sign, so there's no reason to touch that! Had a phone call from Ward this morning about funding, and if I can get Crich to stump up their half of the money soon, then we're ready to rock and roll. I'll also post progress pics etc on here - it would be an amazing rebuild diary! The concrete specialists will do the following work: Erect fencing to keep public safe from various things Remove all the fixtures and fittings. Strip the box paint job off entirely (good thing too, it's AWFUL!). Repair the damaged sections with an epoxy resin, rebuilding the central door stauncheon and the area around the back interior of the Police Box sign. Repaint the box inside and out, including refitting the windows with the hinges included, for ventilation. Box will be repainted with special anti-carbonisation paint, and then they'll repaint the Box in it's correct colours and refit the fittings. Also, I'll get them to turn the door round!! « Last Edit: Apr 27, 2005, 1:13pm by Admin account » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged whitestar1969 Gallifreyan member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 41 Karma: 3 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #10 on Apr 27, 2005, 1:21pm » Dale that's all brilliant news. It's great that all the original bits will be preserved as they are. I really hope Crich come up with the cash now and put right what they should have done years ago. I can't wait to see the finished box. If anyone is able to take any pictures of the work in progress I'd love to see them. Thank you Dale for all the work you've done on this. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #11 on Apr 27, 2005, 1:56pm » I've not done that much at all. Thanks must also go to Paul Rose, Pete Darrington, Amber Valley Council (especially Rachael Coates). Of course most of this belongs to Ward Westwater, without whom a lot of Police Boxes would now be gone forever. All I've done is hassled folk [;)] and agreed to liaise with different people for something we ALL want. The last remaining Mark Two Metropolitan Police Public Call Box safe and secure, and in a fit condition. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged ironageman Castellan member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 459 Location: the Greta Garbo Home Karma: 159 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #12 on Apr 27, 2005, 8:26pm » Hey, that all sounds pretty good. So often (particularly with old cars) people restore the life out of a thing. The thing with buildings, and that includes police boxes, is that the changes and repairs that have happened through the years are a part of the history of the thing and it’s a pity to lose that. One is pretty limited in what one can do to a listed building: one can be stuck with 1960s windows in a 17th century cottage because they 'show the development of the building.' If the Crich renovation is following this minimum-intervention philosophy then hooray! Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged come with us now on a journey through time and space Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #13 on Apr 28, 2005, 2:22pm » More good news on the Crich Box - both the CTV *and* Ward have now agreed to my budget splitting plan. We're also having a plaque made to commemorate the Box's preservation and history, and a grand unveiling will take place when the work's done - at which, naturally, yours truly will be present. Also, CTV have agreed to let the TR site have an exclusive Police Box Rebuild Diary, which is great! D. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged bach4me Guest Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #14 on Apr 28, 2005, 10:44pm » I couldn't be happier that all this has been sorted out and that the poor box will be put right. I feel like someone should make a little documentary about this. It's actually rather ironic that after the BBC fought for the copyright they haven't contributed toward the restoration of the very thing they fought for! Oh well, I'm just glad the restoration is finally going to happen. Well done! Benjamin Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Mark Lord President Wants a real Police Box... member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 905 Karma: 382 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #15 on Apr 28, 2005, 11:46pm » I was going to say exactly the same about the Beeb. They reported on the fight to save the box but did nothing as far as I know. You'd think they would do something, after all, its the last remaining real TARDIS as well as being the last police box. Apart from wanting to buy it back (see earlier post by Dale), has the Met offered to help in any way? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged bach4me Guest Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #16 on Apr 29, 2005, 11:01pm » Quote: I was going to say exactly the same about the Beeb. They reported on the fight to save the box but did nothing as far as I know. You'd think they would do something, after all, its the last remaining real TARDIS as well as being the last police box. With the series starting up again it would be a great bit of PR too! One really wonders about the powers that be sometimes. Benjamin Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged razorcuts Guest Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #17 on May 23, 2005, 9:27pm » Well. At last. I was contacted directly by the BBC not so long ago to do a piece on the Crich box, which they promptly decided not to bother with - this was NATIONAL NEWS by the way, not just EMT. Seems I'm still on their books as Mr PoliceBox. Strange that they go to those lengths and then just decide not to bother. Dale. I know we've often had crossed words about various subject matter, but it's nice that (a) you'll let Zygons be Zygons and (b) as I said before, there's a greater good here that matters more and (c) it's nice that you still credit me for kicking this off on my site moons ago. Let's see the old girl back on her (concrete) feet. How's my old friend Ward? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #18 on May 30, 2005, 7:11pm » Time for an update, I think. CTV have now agreed that Ward will have the Box for some period of time - it may then revert back to the CTV's keepership, I'm not sure. The (3 wanted) quotes have been requested, and some are on the table already. The Council are happy the box is being restored, and I've had the intent to do the work THIS year re-affirmed to me. I'm a happy little Bunny!! Dale. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Mark Lord President Wants a real Police Box... member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 905 Karma: 382 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #19 on May 30, 2005, 7:34pm » That sounds like great news Dale. Quote: "..CTV have now agreed that Ward will have the Box for some period of time - it may then revert back to the CTV's keepership.." What does this mean, is Ward goning to own the box or take it away? Also, forgive my ignorance, but who/what are "CTV"? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #20 on May 30, 2005, 8:34pm » The Box will stay in it's current position throughout - no weird wheezing groaning noises for it only to fade away here... but Ward will be the box's legal owner. CTV = Crich Tramway Village Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Mark Lord President Wants a real Police Box... member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 905 Karma: 382 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #21 on May 31, 2005, 10:32pm » I see. Mix up of abreviations. I've always known CTV as NTM (National Tramway Museum). Spent ages trying to figure different combinations! As for Ward, I've never met or spoke to the guy (after all, why should I have?!) but I read a quote from an email supposedly from Ward which made him sound quite arrogant. (I'll find it out) Please tell me that I read this out of context or its a lie and this guy really is a police box god and nice guy? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged ironageman Castellan member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 459 Location: the Greta Garbo Home Karma: 159 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #22 on Jun 2, 2005, 3:54pm » I've also read a quote from Ward Westwater which was worded in what seemed an arrogant way. It was in reply to a query about a replica police box at a police sports club. Perhaps I may quote part of it? The website is about five years old ... it was completed by a friend of mine just as a pass time. I do not support it or have time to amend it or update. I do not publicise any of my work or allow people in to the numerous [physical] sites I own, with the exception of the partnership programme my wife and I are involved in with English Heritage. As for the police box at the Met sports ground, this is actually a copy of an original box and not a very good copy at that. I (to my knowledge) own all remaining Mark I Gilbert McKenzie Trench design Police Signal boxes. The only original police boxes the Met Police have are on loan from me...We also loan boxes to various other English forces and museums, more than we loan to Scottish Forces or museums so I am disappointed you think there is a Scottish slant. It may well just be badly worded, but it does imply that history and conservation (and indeed the public good) are lesser motives than a sort of 'collector's impulse.' However... I'm hoping that it was just a cross email sent out by Ward Westwater on a bad day, and that the Crich box won't go into private ownership, and that it'll all end happily... Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged come with us now on a journey through time and space Mark Lord President Wants a real Police Box... member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 905 Karma: 382 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #23 on Jun 2, 2005, 6:36pm » Ah, thats the email I was referring to! (Can anyone explain to me how you can grab a shot of your computers screen for posting etc, I've seen it done?) Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Scarfwearer Administrator member is offline Joined: Feb 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 175 Location: Somewhere beginning with 'S' Karma: 12 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #24 on Jun 2, 2005, 7:06pm » PRINT-SCRN will place an image of the whole screen on the clipboard. ALT PRINT-SCRN does the same for the selected window. You can then paste it into MS Paint, or whatever picture editing s/w you have using Edit/Paste. You can then save it to a file as a JPG for posting. Crispin Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Mark Lord President Wants a real Police Box... member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 905 Karma: 382 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #25 on Jun 2, 2005, 7:09pm » Thanks very much Crispin, I shall give that a go. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Admin account Administrator member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 1,188 Karma: 0 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #26 on Jun 7, 2005, 8:44am » At last, it's there, it done, it's happening and I can stop nagging people. Here's the important part of an email I got from Crich Tramway Village yesterday afternoon: "I thought I would bring you up to date on the restoration work on the Police Box at Town End. Following discussions last week with ********** Building Services Ltd, I expect work to begin on the Box before the end of the month." At long last. If you'll excuse me, I feel the need to run around the kitchen making loud cheering noises waving my hands in the air. As the Doctor once said... "I'm in the market for congratulations!!" Dale. « Last Edit: Jun 7, 2005, 8:48am by Admin account » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged thedoctor Time Lord member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 72 Karma: 1 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #27 on Jun 7, 2005, 10:37am » Well thats a relief! Finally something will be done to preserve it! Congrats to all involved! Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Tom Chancellor member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 684 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Karma: 33 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #28 on Jun 7, 2005, 12:30pm » Jolly good, Dale! Does this mean you get to play I.M. Foreman again? That sounds like something Troughton would have said; am I right? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Mark Lord President Wants a real Police Box... member is offline Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 905 Karma: 382 Re: The Continuing Saga of Crich... « Reply #29 on Jul 5, 2005, 7:46pm » Quote: "....Following discussions last week with ********** Building Services Ltd, I expect work to begin on the Box before the end of the month" Yes, call me impatiant, but I visited Crich (again ) and the box looks the same as last time, except the roof lamp flashed this time and the external bell had stoped working. I know it's only the 5th but any news? 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