The Humer Unbeam Interesting Filling Stations Thread

[McAndy]

Once staffed by bats?

[Mr.Jimbo]

Surprised the Texaco station in Bala hasn't been mentioned, have passed it many a time following rallying up in the hills nearby. Had to wait for the AA there once for my mates van that'd broken down, then lead the tow-truck all the way up to the stage where it had broken down!

[gwc1997]

janesmith1950 said:

gwc1997 said:

Morland near Penrith, Cumbria. 100% favourite petrol station would love to one day buy it and restore it to its former glory

There was one in Bolton nr Appleby that was similar, however think it's long gone.

Sure you're not thinking of this one? Morland pretty much the village over from Bolton, have to pass through to get to Morland

[Lotusgone]

That was a pleasant half an hour flitting through all those pictures, thanks to all the posters. I was surprised though, that nobody posted the big swoopy canopy on the A1 near Markham Moor (unless it was on a link I couldn't be a*sed to open).

The New Buckenham Reliant chap is still there, by the way. He commutes in a L-reg blue Regal.

[Spanglepants]

Didn't get photos at the time but this was opposite the Moretonhampstead Motor Museum



Also this one not far from me at Little Brickhill

[ukaskew]

Beautifully preserved just outside the centre of Oslo...

Norway by Chris Harrison, on Flickr

Norway by Chris Harrison, on Flickr

[DickyC]

ukaskew said:

Beautifully preserved just outside the centre of Oslo...

Norway by Chris Harrison, on Flickr

Norway by Chris Harrison, on Flickr

Marvellous. A bit of trivia for you. Esso is a made up word from the initials of Standard Oil, 'SO.' Judging by the picture, had Standard been a Norwegian company, Esso would have been Essbee.

[canucklehead]

Salesy said:

Here is on in London, Holland Park. £1.74 per litre

I remember an array of weird hole-in-the-wall stations like this from my parents taking me and my sister on a silver jubilee holiday to the UK from Canada in the 70s. To a kid from BC they seemed strange beyond belief. I am surprised to see them survive, as nowadays the petrol station seems to be a mainly globally standardised design, similar from LA to London, from Paris to Tokyo.

[anonymous-user]

Not too sure if we've had this.
Ground Zero in better times:

[DickyC]

No busier then than it is now.

[Minimad79]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.8773934,-0.83345...

This one on the A413 in Whitchurch, Bucks. Still going strong despite astronomical prices!

[smilo996]

Arne Jacobsen's Petrol Station, just north of Copenhagen. Beautiful and simple.



The Service Station in Hambledon, near Henley. Variously used in Band of Brothers and at the time the photo was taken decked out for a period drama.
Almost perfect location.



In Sunningdale Village, a beautfiul but deyaing former service station that will likely be turned into apartmentsyar unfortunately.

[Jordan210]

I live near this in Chipping Norton. Oddly it does still sell fuel. but is expensive and near a shell garage

[Benjo42]

unsprung said:

Some lovely photos here: the architectural evolution of the petrol station.


.

Wow thanks for this link or I would have never known this Little chef icon from my childhood had once been a petrol station! I see it still now, but looking very sorry for itself after the chef has gone.




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markham_Moor

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.2568197,-0.92813...

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.2567913,-0.92765...

Edited by Benjo42 on Friday 5th August 08:23

[Benjo42]

Does Brooklands count, as I'm not sure if this is just a thing put together for display or if it was ever a functioning station.


I've also always liked the look of the Houghton Regis, A5, station:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.9028227,-0.54642...

Edited by Benjo42 on Friday 5th August 08:38

[Bonefish Blues]

Passed this yesterday. In the intervening period the forecourt is empty and it has become a ladies' hairdressers, of all things

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.3019197,-3.87308...

Am struggle to make linky work like image

[coppice]

Benjo42 said:

Wow thanks for this link or I would have never known this Little chef icon from my childhood had once been a petrol station! I see it still now, but looking very sorry for itself after the chef has gone.




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markham_Moor

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.2568197,-0.92813...

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.2567913,-0.92765...

Edited by Benjo42 on Friday 5th August 08:23

A real memory of my childhood too - used to call in there en route Norfolk Broads with my dad in his Triumph Herald in the 60s. Later I was a regular visitor in my sexy Escort Van and MG Midget. But passed the site the other day and am pretty sure it wasn't there ? Must have been listed- classic 60s architecture with huge confidence ('screw the past - just cop for this baby ' ) - what a contrast to our current habit of making everything look so Farrow and Ball retro...

[andyps]

coppice said:

Benjo42 said:

Wow thanks for this link or I would have never known this Little chef icon from my childhood had once been a petrol station! I see it still now, but looking very sorry for itself after the chef has gone.




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markham_Moor

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.2568197,-0.92813...

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.2567913,-0.92765...

Edited by Benjo42 on Friday 5th August 08:23

A real memory of my childhood too - used to call in there en route Norfolk Broads with my dad in his Triumph Herald in the 60s. Later I was a regular visitor in my sexy Escort Van and MG Midget. But passed the site the other day and am pretty sure it wasn't there ? Must have been listed- classic 60s architecture with huge confidence ('screw the past - just cop for this baby ' ) - what a contrast to our current habit of making everything look so Farrow and Ball retro...

I also had no idea that was ever a petrol station, I pass it regularly (last time was in the early hous this morning) and it is definitely still there although hasn't been used for a few years now. It was listed not too long ago along with the art deco buiding by the Northbound side (not far North of Peterborough) that also used to be a Little Chef - noticed that had a Ducati sign on it yesterday.

[GlennT]

Up in the Yorkshire Dales in Langthwaite, Arkengarthdale, is this old petrol station - if you can call it that! Apparently two of the pumps were hand operated!

[Tenck]

Port Charlotte on the island of Islay in Scotland. Don't know if it still is operational, it was way back in 2004.