Driving landmarks
Discussion
Probably only of interest to us senior members. How many landmark buildings or companies or suchlike can you remember from your travels around the UK that have disappeared?
Places like Staples corner on London's North Circular, Staples was a furniture manufacturer that had its factory at the busy junction which also had Smiths Industries next door .
So many places that were almost the navigation guides when moving about in the days before sat navs .
The sort of places that most people knew when you told them how far away you were . Most were old established companies that are now long gone . They were often mentioned on the traffic reports on the radio stations.
Places like Staples corner on London's North Circular, Staples was a furniture manufacturer that had its factory at the busy junction which also had Smiths Industries next door .
So many places that were almost the navigation guides when moving about in the days before sat navs .
The sort of places that most people knew when you told them how far away you were . Most were old established companies that are now long gone . They were often mentioned on the traffic reports on the radio stations.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
The radio masts next to the M1 at Daventry were a massive landmark.
820ft high, some of the masts - Rugby, not actually Daventry though.Firestone building on the Gt West Road
Hoover Ltd when it was a factory, not a supermarket on Western Avenue (A40)
Guinness brewery at Park Royal
White City Stadium
Wembley Stadium
Pot Bellied Fool said:
I’m sure there was a sign on a bridge across the M6 as well, somewhere between Sandbach and Knutsford? I was always curious, didn’t realise until recently what it was all about. The iconic Littlewoods building on Edge Lane in Liverpool is another landmark from my childhood, as was The Old Swan island, named after a pub I think. 2 landmarks for me, though both on the same route - to visit my granny
1. Jobs diary - A316 SW London, the road is elevated and as you pass Jobs thereare were a load of small cows on the roof!
Seems there was a petition from a few years back to reinstate them and it was successful, hurray!
(yes, i know it says dairy crest, seems to have changed hands a few times)
2. DER building - On the same A316 further on at Hanworth, where it crosses the Hampton rd was the DER building, APEX house i think.
It seemed impossibly cool with the curving facade/triangle form - turns out it was in The Italian Job too, i never knew until just now:
from this site https://www.reelstreets.com/films/italian-job-the-...
1. Jobs diary - A316 SW London, the road is elevated and as you pass Jobs there
Seems there was a petition from a few years back to reinstate them and it was successful, hurray!
(yes, i know it says dairy crest, seems to have changed hands a few times)
2. DER building - On the same A316 further on at Hanworth, where it crosses the Hampton rd was the DER building, APEX house i think.
It seemed impossibly cool with the curving facade/triangle form - turns out it was in The Italian Job too, i never knew until just now:
from this site https://www.reelstreets.com/films/italian-job-the-...
how exactly do you drive a landmark?
the Asda in Moss Side on the A5103 as you head in to Manchester from the M56 is a 'landmark' reference point during the journey
also recognise the smell of coffee on the A52 east or west so you know where you are even in the dark, rain, snow etc :{}
the Asda in Moss Side on the A5103 as you head in to Manchester from the M56 is a 'landmark' reference point during the journey
also recognise the smell of coffee on the A52 east or west so you know where you are even in the dark, rain, snow etc :{}
All the cooling towers in megawatt valley
The winding gear near Warrington of Parkside Colliery near the M6
Ironbridge power station. Dad commisioned it when I was a kid, I was an apprentice there, haven't been back since they demolished it and not sure I want to as it was a part of my life for near on 40 years.
The winding gear near Warrington of Parkside Colliery near the M6
Ironbridge power station. Dad commisioned it when I was a kid, I was an apprentice there, haven't been back since they demolished it and not sure I want to as it was a part of my life for near on 40 years.
MitchT said:
The Tinsley cooling Towers next to the M1 near Sheffield - one of the many landmarks of our family holidays to Cornwall (from Yorkshire) in the 1990s. Demolished in 2008.
As a kid I always knew we were on our way home when we passed these. I still find it odd not seeing them there all these years later. There was also the Outo Kumpu cluck which I remember being permanently wrong 
The Humber Bridge is another, especially when we're heading back to the South Bank.And of course, the sight of the steel works when you head back into Scunny
Michael
So many - Ferrybridge and Eggborough power stations near where I grew up, the bridge at the top of the M62 (which I walked across before the M62 opened ; the site of the old Hofbrauhaus on the A 1 just north of Wetherby (now on A168 ) ; RAF Leeming , Dishforth , Cottesmore , Scampton and Waddington (all en route to regular destinations in the past ) ; the croft standing alone in Strath Dionard (just south of Durness , and a final landmark on trips to Cape Wrath before the great unwashed discovered the NC500 ) ..The wonderful Sam Scorer petrol station on A1 at Markham Moor ; the seedy sex shop near Grantham on A1 (not as a customer)
Most of all , the site of Lincoln cathedral , after dusk , lit up and visible for many miles across Lincolnshire . I lived a stone's throw from it at in the Seventies and even now the memories (cars and girls- not always in that order ) come back.
Most of all , the site of Lincoln cathedral , after dusk , lit up and visible for many miles across Lincolnshire . I lived a stone's throw from it at in the Seventies and even now the memories (cars and girls- not always in that order ) come back.
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