Traditional red phone box in Burntisland turned into time machine

The kiosk, located outside the library, has been given a new lease of life with its frames decorated with colourful historic timelines featuring information about the town’s history and heritage as part of a special project.

The timelines include: Oliver Cromwell occupying Burntisland in 1651; details of the first horse race to Pettycur which eventually evolved into the first Burntisland Highland Games in 1652 and a school timeline from the 19th century.

The project, which was completed last month, came to fruition after members of Burntisland Heritage Trust learned that the phone box was to be removed at the beginning of last year.

Ian Archibald, trust convener, said it was aware of the BT ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme, and applied to buy it as it is a registered charity.

He said it was an important part of the town’s history given it has been in the High Street since 1937 and served locals with an open all hours phone service throughout World War Two and through the decades until last year.

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Ian explained: “These red phone boxes play an important part in our local and national heritage, and so we purchased the kiosk last spring.

“The original intention was for it to house a mini-exhibition, but it was agreed to keep it as a telephone kiosk as it was, when it was made in 1937 at the Lion Foundry in Kirkintilloch.

“When you look in the kiosk today you will see exactly that. It was also the opportunity to use the frames as a timeline of the town’s history and heritage.

“The project didn’t really get underway until last summer and we were very fortunate to receive a grant from the Burntisland Community Development Trust to assist with the partial funding of the new project work.

“We were also very fortunate to have the local print, sign and marketing company, the Evolve Group, right opposite the telephone kiosk. Stuart Nicol, one of the manager directors of the company, offered to assist and undertake the restoration.”

He added: “I am very pleased with the outcome and that the community and visitors can enjoy it for many years to come.”

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