A pictorial history of Forton Services

A collection of photographs detailing the construction and life of Forton Services on the M6 motorway near Lancaster, Lancashire.

[@photographyinflight4183]

Outstanding presentation. Thank you.

[@fionaterry-chandler8056]

Arrived at the Travelodge last week and saw this-my jaw dropped! Thanks for its history.

[@MyJon64]

Fond memories stopping at Forton services when I was a small child, travelling from Rugby to Carlisle. The time was the early 70's, there was talk on the TV and radio often about Space and man going to the moon. My Dad would tell me this was a space station :)

[@PNEKarl]

Wow! Amazing footage. Brings back many happy memories. I used to live in Garstang and would often take a midnight drive to the cafe. Those were the days my friend!!

[@michaelhawthorne8696]

We thought they'd never end.....but alas they did.... you can't go up to the roof cafe now, I believe....

[@PNEKarl]

@@michaelhawthorne8696 It's such a shame. It should be restored and brought back to its former glory. It's unique.

[@michaelhawthorne8696]

@@PNEKarl I'd be the first up there, I'm only 20 mins away

[@PNEKarl]

@@michaelhawthorne8696 I used to live in Garstang and would often pop to the services at 1am in the morning for food supplies. I once went and my car needed topping up. I filled the tank to the top and bought a cassette of Jean Michel Jarre's 'Oxygene' album. I got on the motorway and headed south. I was untired and just fancied a drive in the dark. The motorway was empty and I was in the mood for a drive. I ended up at Land's End!!! I sent a postcard to my girlfriend from Land's End to tell her where I'd got to :-)

[@paulholland5270]

Heartbeat era

[@cyclingpoultoncc]

Love the music on this video, great video buddy.

[@camf6385]

Took me right back. We used to stop there on the way back to Carlisle after visiting my grandparents. It was the final treat of the holiday to go up to look out

[@jamescampbell6815]

You knew Forton services,it stood out on the M6,lovely inside too

[@kawasaki5187]

Thanks

[@davidstubley4957]

The space age had arrived in north Lancs! The Pennine Tower stands proud to this day.

[@andreweve8914]

Just amazing, the whole video gives me a glimpse into better times before I was born (in 1981) just nicer times

[@autisticlife]

I see you have used my phograph at the beginning of this video.

[@simonnelson7770]

Back in a time where we still had class and standards and values. Now it's all about me, here today gone tomorrow and very aggressive, very very sad.

[@brianfearn4246]

You've noticed that too.

[@jamescat2386]

We use things like Deliveroo to save time, but what we do with this ‘saved time’? we're always being told we can 'do it faster' with advanced technology, but all we do is accelerate life and cause it to be more stressful, and then everyone is in a bad mood (probably even the people gettting rich of the time saving tech they sell us)

[@MrAlwaysBlue]

Is it just me or do all the modern signs spoil it? In 1983 I started at Lancaster university. On the drive there I was apprehensive as it was the first time away from home. I called into Forton to delay it, just for an hour. The next three years did though turn out to be the happiest of my life.

[@mistofoles]

The girl @4:44 was a waitress in the tower restaurant, wearing the uniform of the time.

[@paulholland5270]

1965 heartbeat era

[@skycamvideo]

Where do you get this stuff from. Amazing again buddy. Thanks. Can I share this in my video description on my KZbin video of the tower

[@mistofoles]

@3:07 - A waitress at the condiment/cutlery station - There was one of these at each corner of the tower, and each waitress was personally responsible for cleaning and replenishing the "section" they were allocated to.

[@ribblehead02]

During the course of the video, there is an unclear statement between circa two minutes, forty-two seconds and two minutes, forty-eight seconds, the statement being: "The petrol station opened early in January, with some additional southbound facilities opening that Spring." My questions, and one observation, being: 1. The "January" of which year? 2. The "Spring" of which year? 3. There should be a space between "Rank." and "The". Subject to the requested clarification, I can, if requested, provide a 'Suggested Correction:'.

[@mistofoles]

@4:48 - Two of the cleaners in the "pot wash" room immediately behind the open cooking/serving area where the chefs worked.

[@brianfearn4246]

It's amazing how empty the motorway was then and a pleasure to use. 3:35 the lorry joining looks like a Albion. Days well gone.

[@mistofoles]

The tower closed in 1989 due to our old friend the fire regulations, and also because it was no longer considered commercially viable.

[@ribblehead02]

During the course of the video, there is a spelling mistake between circa eighteen seconds and twenty-seven seconds: 'reenforced' ("re-enforced") should be spelt: 'reinforced' ('re-inforced')

[@DisneyMarkUK]

Do you think the tower will ever reopen? Thanks for the cool video.

[@sideshow4417]

Where did you get the picture at 1:50

[@DeanPorterEsq]

One of my favourite videos did you know we share a friend on facebook, did you manage to find out who did the music and what it's called Buddy?

[@familycyclingcc9875]

You can find the music on bensounds.can

[@sideshow4417]

1:50 I'm somewhat convinced that's my Granddad on the left.

[@blackpoollad8970]

Amazing music, who is the artist who created it?

[@bills7295]

The Pennine tower is in good shape all it needs is a little renovation to meet fire regulations and maybe update the equipment and it will boost customers to come and see the views of Morecambe Bay

[@cjmillsnun]

It's riddled with asbestos, some of it spray on, although you are correct it is structurally sound. This asbestos would either need removing or encapsulating. The problem with bringing it up to fire regulations is that it would require an external fire escape. That would be a problem as the tower is listed, as it would fundamentally change the external appearance on one side. After that, what are you going to stick up there? A restaurant? OK but in reality Greggs will probably have more customers. Also, not being funny people go to services for a pee and some food before continuing their journey. It's not a destination, just a stop. It was a folly and an expensive one at that , as being listed it has to be kept in good external and structural shape. To bring it up to usable standards would take hundreds of thousands of pounds, it would take a long time to get a decent return on that investment.

[@cpcnw]

Music to 2:30 who by please?

[@mikedayesq]

Great video, does anyone know what the song Is called and who did it?

[@brianfearn4246]

No central crash barrier. Imagine that today. Why didn't the planners of yesteryears put 4 lanes in from the beginning which would probably have not left us with these so called smart motorways which are not ideal if anything goes wrong. PS other drivers vehicles can also go Wrong .. its a gamble.