Charnock Richard Services, M6 Motorway
The first motorway service stations were at Newport Pagnell and the infamous Watford Gap, where for many southerners, “The North” indicated on Richard “Jock” Kinneir’s white-on-blue sign, starts. In 1959, Charles Forte employed smiling hostesses to take hats and overcoats from M1 pioneers who could then sit on colourful bar-stools and eat two shilling hot dogs or, if you were a part of the “gin’n’Jag set”, “large fillet steaks” for 12s 6d (72p). David Lawrence, the author of Always a Welcome: The Glove Compartment History of the British Motorway Service Area, says service stations are still microcosms of British society: “They are places where people can be anonymous, places where romances develop, people write books, and criminals exchange money.”
Blue Boar Watford Gap Services, M1 Motorway
Charnock Richard Services, M6 Motorway
Fortes Services Charnock Richard, M6 Motorway
Forton Services, M6 Motorway. With its air traffic control aesthetic, waiter service and unparalleled views of the motorway, the 22 metre-high (72ft) concrete tower on the northbound side of Forton (now Lancaster) services was a must-stop destination for many drivers in the 1960s. It is now a listed building.
Keele Services, M6 Motorway 2
Keele Services, M6 Motorway
Kenning Motor Group – M5 Services, Strensham
Knutsford Services, M6 Motorway
Newport Pagnell Services, M1 Motorway
Pennine Tower Restaurant, Forton Services, M6 Motorway
Strensham Services, M5 Motorway (early aerial postcard)
Strensham Services, M5 Motorway
Top Rank M2 Services, Farthing Corner, Kent Now known as Medway services.
Top Rank Motorport Services, M4 Motorway (Aust Services)
Top Rank Motorport Services, M4 Motorway, Severn Bridge (Aust Services)
Top Rank Motorport, Forton Services, M6 Motorway
Watford Gap Services, M1 Motorway
Woodall Serives, M1 Motorway
Fortes M6 Motorway Charnock Richard
Fortes M.6 Motorway, Charnock Richard, Lancashire
Chanrnock Richard Service Station M6 Motorway, August 1963
Fortes, M.6 Motorway, Charnock Richard
The New M6 Motorway Near Preston
Corley Services Trusthouse Forte
Inside the original restaurant at Watford Gap.
The original building at Watford Gap, taken not long after it was built.
Watford Gap Blue_Boar_car_park the original northbound building and car park. The restaurant is on the left and transport café is on the right.
Leicester Forest East 1970s
Knutsfords original transport café on the bridge at the services.
Granada Toddingtons c.1970
Harthill Blue Star
Many of these postcards come from Glen F’s amazing Flickr site.
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