Gilbert Mackenzie Trench (1885–1979) was a Scottish architect, and the surveyor to the Metropolitan Police between 1920 and 1945.[2] He was the sixth such architect to hold the post since its inception in 1842. He took over the role from John Dixon Butler, who died in post in 1920.
He is credited as the designer of the police telephone box, which has since become a pop culture icon owing to its immortalisation as the space-time machine of Doctor Who.[3]
Other buildings he is known to have designed include the police station and associated accommodation in Tooting in south London.[4] Trench also designed Charles Rowan House on Margery Street, Clerkenwell, which was built in the 1920s as married quarters for Metropolitan policemen.[5]
Mackenzie Trench retired in 1945 and was succeeded in the role by John Innes Elliott in 1947.
- ^ "A History of the Real Police Box". www.themindrobber.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (February 27, 2021, 10:52 pm)". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Tardis-style police box at Bradgate Park is STILL used by police today". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Former Tooting Police Station will be turned into flats in £8mil deal". Wandsworth Times. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ "History of Charles Rowan House". Charles Rowan House TRA. Retrieved 20 May 2022.