The Humer Unbeam Interesting Filling Stations Thread

[DickyC]

DickyC said:

When I was a little lad my mum and dad sometimes took dad's parents for Sunday drive. A place that sticks in my mind is Reigate Heath Garage. It was old fashioned then, in the 60s. I thought I'd go and find it.

[8bit]

Nice work, Dicky

I drove past this charming little place yesterday. Couldn't stop for a photo but I managed to find it on street view just now.

https://goo.gl/maps/rO9PR

[r129sl]

This one on the A68 at Byrness, just south of the border with Scotland is still going strong, diminutive café and shop too:

[DickyC]

Bear with me, it's a bit of an epic this one.

On the recommendation of a colleague at work in Barry, I drove up to Talybont on Usk in the Brecons in search of a derelict garage that still appeared on Streetview but, as we've discovered, that's no guarantee the place is still there. I'm so glad I went.





This was a bonus I found round the back, as it was this I actually went for:

[GuinnessMK]

r129sl said:

This one on the A68 at Byrness, just south of the border with Scotland is still going strong, diminutive café and shop too:

Drove past there the week before last and it looked completely abandoned?

[egroeg]

I quite like the ones you find on the continent. Think this one was in France/Belgium...

[DickyC]

DickyC said:

I was fascinated by this and couldn't leave it:


DES JAMES : Obituary

6th January 2011

JAMES Des Garage Proprietor of Talybont-on-Usk and International Six Day Gold Medallist Died at home on Jan 6, aged 90 beloved husband of Dorothy, loving father of Rhian and Geraint, father-in-law to Christine, and dear Grampa Des to Ryan, Richard and Victoria.

...................



D.R. (Des) James on his Triumph at the International Six Days Trial 1950.

D.R. (Des) James who ‘went to Gold’ in 1949 on a scarce Royal Enfield 250 Clipper. This time his Triumph’s rear hub gave out 6 miles from the finish & Des had to ‘make do’ with Silver! A great all round competitor who at one stage rode Harry J Hulsman’s HJH. Des is still a great man of Talybont!!!

From: Speed Track Tales - A Welsh perspective on the International Six Day Trials event and the history of Motorcycle Reliability Trials.


The International Six Days Trials ran from 1913 to 1979, were held in many countries, and were run over approximately 1,250 miles of rough terrain.

[r129sl]

I spotted this one yesterday. Surprisingly close to Newcastle upon Tyne, On the A694 at Winlaton Mill, about four miles from the Metrocentre of all places. Sure, not as picturesque nor as ancient as some in this thread but still an example of the dying breed.

[georgejoshington]

There's this one on the A505 between Baldock and Royston. Sadly it looks as though the board with 'KEEP OUT - CCTV IN OPPORATION' crudely daubed on has been removed/destroyed.

[Gad-Westy]

r129sl said:

I spotted this one yesterday. Surprisingly close to Newcastle upon Tyne, On the A694 at Winlaton Mill, about four miles from the Metrocentre of all places. Sure, not as picturesque nor as ancient as some in this thread but still an example of the dying breed.

There's a BMW specialist based there now in the big white building. Some lovely cars in there most of the time.

[hidetheelephants]

DickyC said:

While filling up I have often idly wondered at the etymology of the name Gilbarco which adorns so many pumps these days; cheers for that.

This one's being auctioned if any PHers fancy leaving the rat race.

[DickyC]

hidetheelephants said:

DickyC said:

While filling up I have often idly wondered at the etymology of the name Gilbarco which adorns so many pumps these days; cheers for that.

I emailed Gilbarco Veeder-Root's headquarters in the You Knighted States with my findings. I thought they might be interested.

The lack of any form of ackowledgemnet leads me to suspect they aren't.

[r129sl]

DickyC said:

hidetheelephants said:

DickyC said:

While filling up I have often idly wondered at the etymology of the name Gilbarco which adorns so many pumps these days; cheers for that.

I emailed Gilbarco Veeder-Root's headquarters in the You Knighted States with my findings. I thought they might be interested.

The lack of any form of ackowledgemnet leads me to suspect they aren't.

Very interesting. I returned to this thread this morning after looking for used petrol pumps from the 1980s. Essential work displacement activity. I did a search for Gilbarco and wondered about the name. I also looked at their website. These days it is all point of sale, upselling, forecourt media, puke, puke, puke. The supply of fuel seems to be merely incidental to the bombardment of the motorist, sorry, consumer with special offers.

A couple more from rural Northumberland. This one in Wark seems to be closed these days. It is years since I've been through Wark.


But I think this one in Bellingham is still going strong. I seem to recall it was when I was last there about a year ago.


Not sure if the one at Chollerford is alive and well anymore, either:


Fourstones Service Station, even sells "milk from the valley": http://www.fourstonesandnewbrough.co.uk/page41.htm...


I am pretty sure this one at Knowesgate on the A696 has closed recently. Maybe I'm wrong. I drove past the other day and it looked shut. I recall giving the owner of an Aston DB6 and his wife in a V8 Vantage £20 each to buy some very much needed fuel here. I got it back in the post with a nice note.



And I don't know how I forgot "Robber" and Cowan at Scots Gap:


There is one of those community jobs at Kielder, as well. http://www.kieldervillagestore.co.uk

Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 23 June 13:17

[EvoDelta]

egroeg said:

I quite like the ones you find on the continent. Think this one was in France/Belgium...

Kruibeke. My regular stop off point for fuel and coffee when on my way to the UK.

[ukaskew]

A few near me, this is my favourite (Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire)...

Self Service by Chris Harrison, on Flickr

Fuel by Chris Harrison, on Flickr

[hammerhead]

I rode over that way myself last night

[Dr Jekyll]

Not a filling station but a former garage outside the Millennium stadium in Cardiff.

[miniman]

NoVetec said:

Starcross, Devon.

Haven't been past for a while, hopefully it's still in use.

It was yesterday

[DickyC]

Dr Jekyll said:

Not a filling station but a former garage outside the Millennium stadium in Cardiff.

Don't you just love Art Deco garages?




And if it isn't Art Deco I love whatever it is.

[hidetheelephants]

If it isn't Art Deco it's certainly what I think of as Art Deco, so we can wallow in our collective philistinism. Marvellous.

Another thing warranting the epithet marvellous was your packaging of my consignment of 'special cargo'; no danger of them getting damaged. Cheers.