The story of Shap part 9

Before the M6 motorway there were only two major roads linking England and Scotland - the A1 and the A6.
This series of videos covers stories from one of the most hazardous roads, The A6 over Shap fell in what is now known as Cumbria.

[@harryarmitage6056]

I was 15 when the motorway opened over Shap. I was brought up in a house 100 yards from the A6 in Kendal. I well remember the noise of constant haulage traffic at night, and the A6 gridlocking in and on the approaches to Kendal when it was the start and end of particular "Scottish" holidays.

[@walt-sh7ju]

I have relatives in burton in kendal and struggle to imagine all traffic running through on A6.

[@andrewtaylor5984]

In those days, lorries could be overloaded, and had insufficient braking power when descending the hill. However, the Penrith to Carlisle section was far more dangerous, as it had extra traffic to and from the A66.

[@robinking6201]

Remember the A30 going very quite when the A303 became the many truck road to the West Country .

[@andrewtaylor5984]

This is rather more complex than many people realise. You will see that all the other A30X roads are in, or near, London. The original A303 was, in fact, Wandsworth Road, linking Vauxhall with Wandsworth. Then, in 1933, the Ministry of Transport decided that a new trunk road from London to Devon was needed, passing through fewer urban areas than the A30. They took the number A303 for this "new" road. The original number of the Basingstoke to Stonehenge section was A3036, and this number was transferred to Wandsworth Road in London. All other A303X roads are in Surrey and Hampshire. The western extension from Stonehenge to Monkton, where the A30 converges was a brace of B-roads in the B31XX series. The A30 was also diverted at this time, and became B3400 to Andover, and then the A343. The A30 then took a more southerly course through Sutton Scotney and Stockbridge, before joining the original alignment at Lopscombe Corner. Even so, when continental traffic signs began to appear, green for primary routes, white for secondary, the A30 was still deemed to be the principal road to the South-West, but not for long. I think the change to making the A303 the principal road took place in about 1967. For some illogical reason, the Devon end has not been upgraded. (I do not say "improved", as I find these continuous dual carriageways boring.)

[@nickwillobey2205]

Nice head of hair!