By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-08-09 01:20:45 | Updated at 2026-08-09 03:35:34
2 hours ago
An artist from Cornwall has completed a 1,700-mile round trip to the Isle of Lewis to save a rare telephone box from being shut down.
William Arnold, 43, who works as a photographer and artist, travelled to the remote settlement of Einacleit to place 52 calls from what is thought to be the last remaining connected double-door telephone kiosk in Britain.
Under Ofcom rules, a payphone must receive at least 52 calls per year to stay in service.
"The project is slightly ridiculous and comedic," said Mr Arnold. "But there is also a serious point about how we communicate with each other and how these phone boxes are often vital rural lifelines."
His campaign to protect rural phone lines began in 2022 during a photography trip to Lewis.
"It all started on the Isle of Lewis when I was working on a photographic project and I wanted to call my partner who was staying back at the house to say I was going to be back late," he said.
"My mobile phone battery was nearly dead and I came across this pristine looking phone box that had the old yellow British Telecom branding from the 1980s.
"There was a phone in there and I was really excited because I hadn't used a phone box for years. But when I picked up the receiver, the line was dead and I was so disappointed."
William Arnold travelled to the remote settlement of Einacleit to place 52 calls from Britain's last double-door phone box
He raised the issue with BT, but the experience also kicked off a deeper passion for keeping rural phone boxes going.
The kiosk in Einacleit is believed to have been locally modified with double doors to withstand the fierce winds on Lewis, as a single door was considered potentially hazardous.
Armed with roughly £36 in 50p and 20p coins, Mr Arnold rang 52 different people over nearly two hours.
"It wasn't just 20 second phone calls, some people phoned me back so I had a few longer conversations," he said.
"There were 45mph winds which people could hear on the phone and it was hammering it down, so there was about an inch and a half of water at the bottom and my feet were cold by the end."
His calls went to supporters of his Crowdfunder campaign, along with several strangers.
BT reviewed 47 payphones in the Western Isles last year, with 42 ultimately earmarked for the chop.
A spokesman said around 9,000 public payphones are still working across the UK, down from roughly 20,000 just two years ago.
Some phone boxes have been replaced by 'Street Hubs'
BT
"Maintaining and operating a large estate of payphones costs millions of pounds each year, an obstacle that prevents more investment in full fibre broadband and mobile networks – which our customers tell us they want," the spokesman said.
Some parts of the country saw their traditional red - then replacement grey plastic - phone boxes replaced by kiosks from a firm called InLink.
After InLink collapsed, BT now runs smart "Street Hub" WiFi kiosks instead.
Mr Arnold says working phone boxes are essential for public safety, particularly in areas without mobile coverage during power cuts and storms.
He now hopes to encourage local residents to make the 52 annual calls needed to keep the Einacleit kiosk operational themselves.
