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'Dilapidated' phone box transformed into library

Cameron WeldonSouth West
Stacia Smales Hill An old style red painted telephone box that has been transformed into a community library. The phone box has had its phone removed and replaced with shelves of books and the words library have been painted on the top of it.Stacia Smales Hill
An old telephone box in Mousehole has been converted into a community library

A disused phone box in a village has been transformed into a community library and book exchange.

The classic 1930s red box in Mousehole, Cornwall was bought by charity, the Solomon Browne Hall from British Telecom (BT) two yeas ago, for just £1 as part of the companies 'Adopt a Kiosk' scheme.

Stacia Smales Hill came up with the idea to restore the "dilapidated" old box located on Chapel Street into a library, which she said would operate in a "take one, you put one back or you take one and you bring it back" style system.

She said there was lots of excitement amongst the community and she could not "feel more proud of how the village has taken to this and embraced it".

Stacia Smales Hill Stacia Smales Hill is wearing a red t-shirt and black dungarees and is on a step-ladder painting the crown on top of the phone box in gold paint. The box is in the middle of its restoration, freshly painted with red paint but missing glass and windows. Stacia Smales Hill
Stacia Smales Hill was part of a group of volunteers who helped transform the old phone box

BT said more than 5,000 communities have turned "iconic red phone boxes into something that brings more value and enjoyment to local people – from libraries, to food banks, and defibrillators".

Others given a new lease of life in the South West include one in Kingsbridge, Devon which was turned into a nightclub, complete with a music system, glitter ball and lighting, while another in Princetown, Devon was converted into a World War One micro-museum.

Smales Hill said the project started in September 2025, with a team of about 10 volunteers, and funding from Penzance Town Council.

"It's quite a prominent place in the village, if you're walking from one end to the other you walk past it".

The box was given a fresh coat of paint, new signage and custom built wooden shelves were installed.

She said during the works people would share "wonderful" stories of how they used to make calls to family members from the box.

Stacia Smales Hill Two portrait pictures side by side of the derelict and damaged old red telephone box in Mousehole.Stacia Smales Hill
The traditional red phone box was bought from BT for £1 as part of its 'Adopt a Kiosk' scheme

Smales Hill said: "When the red paint went on and the library sign went up, the excitement in the village was palpable".

"There are about 550 people in this village and we have five book clubs, so if you figure there's probably around 15 to 20 people registered to each book club, that's like a fifth of the population involved with books.

"There's a great passion for books... we're just so proud to have it looking so nice, to have as part of the village."

She said an official opening ceremony would be confirmed at a later date.

Stacia Smales Hill An old style red painted telephone box that has been transformed into a community library. The phone box has had its phone removed and replaced with shelves of books and the words library have been painted on the top of it. It's tucked away in the corner of a small square behind a black bin and a big planter.Stacia Smales Hill
The phone box library is located on Chapel Street in Mousehole, Cornwall

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