This Automobile Association 1950's box, it is an official grade II listed building, and is located on the A149 at Brancaster.We pass it regularly on our trips along the coast, marking the turning to one of our favourite beaches.
To me it looks quite comical, planted so pompously and with such arrogance in, well, a layby. And it's purpose was to simply house a telephone. I can only think that back in the day, the membership fees for the AA were more than adequate to cover costs and provide a generous profit, so their accountant came up with a plan to spend some capital. Actually I'm surprised there isn't a turret. And a moat.
It now stands as a relic to days gone by, when you would have a nice shiny badge to put on your car, advertising your membership credentials and a key hanging off your keyfob to grant you access to the inner sanctum of the AA box.
The equivalent today? Well that would be your mobile phone.
Joining in with The Gallery and the them of Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
Well, that's something I have never seen before! Fantastic reminder of a bygone era x.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen one of these before either but I do know in the past the AA was the only rescue service really around and they were a fairly wealthy organisation. I love that these have been preserved though as a little slice of motoring history in the UK
ReplyDeleteMollyxxx
Just the way it should be. I remember the silver badge and calling them from the phones but never from a box!
ReplyDeleteThe equivalent today is that little yellow card. I wonder if they came out any quicker when you called from that box?!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. I love it!
ReplyDeleteHerding Cats & Beneath Thy Feet
Brilliant! I've never seen anything like that before, I bet it does look a bit out of place these days?
ReplyDeleteWow. I have never seen anything like that before. Great picture and it's good to know that it is being preserved!
ReplyDeleteBlimey that's grade II listed?? Wow! That's some phone box!
ReplyDeleteVery cool - I've never seen one before! Very posh phone box....
ReplyDeleteThat is fantastic, what a marvellous thing to drive past.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen one before... and not even heard of one until now :) x
ReplyDeleteLove your take on the theme! Great find.
ReplyDeleteOriginally the AA built them as a shelter for their repairmen or somewhere to keep their tools ( wouldnt happen now they would just get broken into and tools stolen) . It was only after several years that they put phones in the boxes
ReplyDeletehttp://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/250johnny/IMG_15472090852734_zpsbrbcandy.jpg
ReplyDelete