Pennine Tower, Lancaster (Forton) Services M6
The M6 could arguably be a derp, not in the same league as "glamour" and throw in the words "Motorway Services" and it's a recipe for fail right ?
We made a quick pit stop after a recent caving trip, armed with some plastic forks from a trip to M&S we set about the tower
Apologies for the shonky pics, I only had my phone about my person as we chanced this one..
..Roll back to 1965 and Forton services was the first motorway service station in the UK, and was originally named after the nearby village of Forton
Notable for an unusual hexagonal concrete tower on the Northbound side, 'Pennine Tower', originally housed an up-market restaurant and a sun deck
The architect was T.P. Bennett & Son and it was originally operated by The Rank Organisation
With its air traffic control aesthetic, waiter service and unparalleled views of the motorway, the 22 metre-high (72ft) concrete tower @ Forton services was a must-stop destination for many drivers in the 1960's
Some of its earlier patrons were said to have included the Beatles who regularly made the 70 mile journey from Liverpool to experience this high raised cosmopolitan world of speed, travelers and cappuccinos
The tower closed to the public in 1989 due to various health and safety concerns (asbestos) and having mooched around here myself recently can appreciate why
1965
1972
1980
Forton Services Post Office - First Day Cover
>> FFWD
M6 Southbound
M6 Northbound
Summit
The restaurant bit was stacked with all manner of crap and pics were proving difficult on phone,
so we decided to take our snacks upto the roof and chill in the sun for a while after been holed up in Heron Pot most of the day
A nice leisurely stroll for a change
