A group of Yorkshire Dales National Park volunteers have teamed up to carry out conservation work around one of the country’s rare surviving AA roadside call boxes.
The Grade II listed AA Box 442, located on the A684 between Swinithwaite and Aysgarth, is an iconic landmark for residents and visitors travelling through Wensleydale. Dating from around 1956, the distinctive black-and-yellow timber structure is one of only a handful of surviving AA call boxes still standing in Britain. A reminder of a time when stranded motorists relied on roadside telephones to call for help before the days of mobile phones.
Although responsibility for the wider setting of the call box does not fall to the National Park Authority, volunteers have stepped in to help ensure the site remains in good condition. The AA continue to maintain the box itself.
Work carried out included repairs to sections of drystone walling, the removal of ivy that was beginning to damage the historic structure, and maintenance of the retaining walls around the flower beds that frame the box. Local resident Sheila Simms, who has devoted many years to caring for the call box and its surroundings on behalf of the AA, joined the volunteers on site. The project was also supported by the AA Heritage Team, which 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, said: “We are grateful to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and its volunteers for helping care for the surroundings of AA Box 442. 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.”
