Volunteers have carried out conservation work around one of Britain’s few surviving AA roadside call boxes in Wensleydale.
A team of Yorkshire Dales National Park volunteers worked on the surroundings of the Grade II-listed AA Box 442, which stands beside the A684 between Swinithwaite and Aysgarth.
Dating from around 1956, the distinctive black-and-yellow timber box is a familiar landmark to motorists travelling through the dale.
The boxes were once a common sight beside Britain’s roads and allowed stranded motorists to telephone for assistance in the days before mobile phones.
Most disappeared as communications technology developed, with the AA’s call box network finally phased out in 2002.
The AA continues to maintain Box 442 itself, while local resident Sheila Simms has spent many years looking after the box and its surroundings on the organisation’s behalf.
She joined National Park volunteers for the latest conservation work.
The project included repairing sections of drystone walling and removing ivy which was beginning to damage the historic structure.
Volunteers also carried out maintenance on retaining walls surrounding the flower beds which frame the box.
The AA Heritage Team contributed £400 towards the cost of the work.
David Noland, Member Champion for Cultural Heritage at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “This is a small but much-loved feature of the Dales landscape and an important part of the country’s motoring heritage.
“It’s one of those places where, if local people and volunteers don’t lend a hand, the site could easily deteriorate, but our volunteers have stepped up and made a real difference, helping ensure this unique landmark can continue to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.”
Duncan Webb, a spokesperson for the AA Heritage Team, thanked the volunteers for their efforts.
He added: “These historic call boxes represent an important chapter in the history of motoring in Britain, and we are pleased to support work that helps preserve them for future generations.”
