Great British Road Journeys - Hertfordshire - Letchworth to Ware Ep. 22

[@sddsddean]

I was sub agent on the Little Wymondley bypass and one of the jobs we had to do was replace a 300m length of electric cable that ran from the local sub station. Apparently, it was the only bit of cable like it in the country...415kV, oil cooled, and wrapped in many layers including a steel jacket. In 1992 it cost £3000/metre! Anyway, after laying the cable it was suitably marked...until a strong wind blew the signs down. A JCB came along (you're way ahead aren't you!)... and stuck his bucket in the ground resulting in many sparks, the loss of one of the teeth from the bucket, and the improvement of Stevenage, Letchworth and Hitchin by plunging them into darkness for several hours. Happy Days!😁

[@jonathanhall7334]

😂😂😂

[@timfagan816]

Fuk me drunk, I've seen a 66kv cable get hit. But never a 415kv cable. That jcb would have gone from yellow. To orange, to ash very quickly. Did the jcb operator survive?

[@sddsddean]

@@timfagan816 As I said, amazingly only one tooth on the bucket vapourised. The rest of the machine and driver were perfectly OK.

[@bobstacey9311]

My thoughts were only one bucket tooth, lucky the whole digger did not vapourize

[@samholdsworth420]

You're supposed to call 811 before you dig!!!!

[@markswabey5870]

Its almost like a sarcastic version of tom scott and i love it.

[@AdrianDowthwaite]

Yes, spot on!

[@AlexLR]

Sarcastic yet genuine.

[@steady_94]

Yess 😁 I'd love a crossover video where Tom describes something and Jon translates it into sarcasm and witty remarks 😁

[@hublanderuk]

Tom Scott does not swear on his videos 😃

[@AdrianDowthwaite]

@@hublanderuk True, I do miss Toms weekly regular uploads.

[@neilgorin1037]

As someone who grew up in Stevenage, I find your comments about the town.... entirely reasonable.

[@londonlore5881]

“…other specialist ingredients…” - Love your turn of phrase mate! 🤣🤣👍🏽

[@johndonaldson3619]

Cocaine....says it on the tin!

[@Daz_Stap]

Another gem, even better when I know the locations. The dog was priceless!

[@TheCabrooster11]

Loving your unbridled desire for Stevenage😂😂😂

[@bobstacey9311]

As a 16 yr old living in Hertford Stevenage was asprinational worth the bike ride there with my mate

[@bobstacey9311]

This would have been around 1974

[@aleccoates9094]

8:03 I appreciate the effort of making that shot just so you can say 'Ware Weir' lol

[@johnlbirch]

"Without making a fuss" is, of course, the county motto of Hertfordshire.

[@seldom_seen_kid]

I worked at the Stevenage GSK site for a short time in the early 2000s. Its a pharmaceutical R&D site that they use to create and develop new products in the lab before scaling up in a pilot plant before rolling out to their production sites. Theyve got (had) smoking beagles or something in the basement because the place was always getting beset by animal activists and there were regular announcements to avoid the main gate. The buliding was also used in the film Spy Game.

[@gregsonwoods]

Couldn't see my house from the Letchworth aerial shot.. consoled myself with seeing the big tree at the end of the garden.

[@brianartillery]

"... From lovely countryside to... Stevenage..." Your comic timing is superb, Jon. Also, that fascinating in depth look at a church. Nice one.

[@raynarnslr1966]

Auto Shenanigans. Turn left at sarcasm and carry on to interesting and informative! Safe travels Jon atvb.

[@Theoriginalramjammer]

If anyone watching this thinks Stevenage is shit, try Luton.

[@skraagthedestroyer]

Dude, you filmed some of this just around the corner from where I live; if I'd have known I'd have made you a cup of tea. Nice one, thanks for a bit of local history!

[@SiRhodesDriverTraining]

jon in a field describing something random he found on Google maps. Sunday is now Sunday.

[@charlottelarimore9261]

Well look whos a lucky devil here

[@TheInselaffen]

Only if you have seen burbling on about Heathrow first.

[@Ashystar067]

I haven't related to a comment more in weeks

[@richardbrooks50]

That’s my neck of the woods John,thanks for another intriguing and most exciting instalment 🤣

[@jamesjezjames]

St Evenage I think you'll find 😂

[@grahamcannell9692]

I thought you might have mentioned that Ware railway level crossing was the first i the UK to be fitted with continental barriers rather than crossing gates.

[@Azeria]

My favourite part of Stevenage is they have brown signs pointing to “Tourist Attractions”… There aren’t any Tourist Attractions. One of the signs even has a ❓ slapped on it.

[@donaldasayers]

My favourite sign ever is, or was to be found in Hitchin opposite the open air swimming pool, it read: Hitchin Swimming pool Overflow Car Parking.

[@pavo45]

I like the "specialist" ingredients, bet those pastilles sold like hot coke!

[@pontyexpat]

Had hot coke, once, left on window sill rather than put back in fridge, unpleasant & not recommended.

[@jlcgaming8178]

Excellent sunny Sunday, in the garden with a beer and up pops the notification. Here we go...

[@rileyuktv6426]

“History definitely happened here” 😂❤

[@rednammoc]

Channelling Philomena Cunk

[@ggmtv1394]

In Stevenage, I don’t know how you managed to miss “the Six Hills” a series of six (would you believe?) 2,000 year old Roman burial barrows (the largest surviving Roman barrow group in England) now sympathetically sandwiched between the back of Asda and a commercial estate.

[@kerralexander]

Stevenage is secretly great... Thanks for not telling everyone 😁

[@AtheistEve]

Cycle tracks.

[@iankemp1131]

Nice shots of Ware, but strange that you stood by the river just out of sight of its famous set of riverside gazebos (the largest number in Britain). There's also a good bronze statue in the town centre of a maltster, complete with giant malt shovel and cat (to keep down the rodents who wanted the grain). Some maltings buildings still exist, converted into an arts centre and housing.

[@andykilvington1651]

Back to your home county! Never knew Letchworth is the oldest roundabout in the country - nice place though - was there a few days ago. As for Stevenage - you missed the Old Town High Street which is actually quite pleasant.

[@stephenyates962]

Maybe the dog at the beginning thought Stevenage was a bit ruff, and wanted to photobomb on Jon instead 😅

[@mcmarky1985]

Awesome video! Would also recommend to the viewers a visit to Scott's Grotto if in Ware it's a very unusual and random spot!

[@01mememememe]

The new Sunday Standard - Jon

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Another fantastic and informative episode Jon.

[@BerlietGBC]

The is a wonderful glance at Stevenage new town in colour in the BTF film All that mighty heart , it’s worth a watch

[@Redkite-nd8gc]

Ware is the start of the "New River" that takes water from the Lee into the city of London by an entirely gravity fed channel. It was built in 1613 to provide more fresh drinking water for London and terminated at New River Head, Clerkenwell. It demonstrates the futuility of adding new to any infrastructure name. After all if it was replaced it would become the "Old New River" 🙃

[@willtricks9432]

Unusual for you Jon but your extensive research failed to uncover one of Ware's famous land marks and would tie into the Auto Shenanigan's remit. It is the Ware Concrete Lamppost Collection and former factory. Get back on the road and have a look. I was introduced to the site while Hitch Hiking back in the 80's by a very kind woman in a Morris Minor. That aside, brilliant as usual.

[@philhawley1219]

I don't think I have ever seen a concrete lamp post. If ever I am down south I will have to check it out. Is it as exciting as it sounds?

[@jeremywilliams5107]

​@philhawley1219 that's the only kind we had in our area(NW), other than the motorways.

[@philhawley1219]

@@jeremywilliams5107 I live on the Welsh Marches. Even the moon frightens us. If the clouds part and we see it we know that Satan's evil hordes will be riding their war goats from Llanyblodwell to steal our first born . Street lights would only make it worse. Do you have electric where you live?

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Nice one. A buddy of mine lives in Ware - his neighbour moved there from Wye....

[@camenbert5837]

Anyone from (Luton) Hoo?

[@funky1982]

Very interesting yet again some great research

[@edwardburek1717]

🎵"How far to Hitchin, it's Hitchin I'm missing..."🎶

[@zeb3144]

I know Letchworth, Hitchin, Ware and Hertford very well. Must admit, i quite like these places including Stevenage. I could retire to any of theses towns.

[@davidyardley512]

I don't know about you chaps but to me there is nothing like a new and exciting great British road journey.

[@jonathanmidgley6772]

Thanks

[@MrMWRMWR]

Lived in Letchworth, Stevenage and Hitchin early 1970s (pre Wymondley bypass) and still travel through. Piqued my interest to explore a few places I never knew about. Thanks.

[@chrisbardell]

Believe that sign-off bit was under the A10 where it goes airborne onto stilts, over the River Lea. Flies over the Ware to Hertford road, looking for all the world like they just took out 2 or 3 houses and built the viaduct where they once stood. Went past it many times for work, impressive bit of civil engineering as you see the A10 fly off into the distance.

[@MegaTube1313]

All of my old haunts although Stevenage haunts the most 😱

[@sue.Hoo123]

Driving in to Stevenage one day and on the Welcome to Stevenage sign some wag had written “Twinned with HELL” in market pen 😂

[@portlandfester7510]

Another fascinating video and yes I pressed the like button lol😂

[@gavinhagan8357]

Another great vid. Just imagine in the good old days , “oh I feel a little tickle in my throat, I think I’ll have a suck on this medicated lozenge. Wow look at the pink elephants “. What a fun time. Keep up the great work buddy.

[@I_Don_t_want_a_handle]

Never had hallucinations on coke, just felt buzzed. Waste of money, could just as easily stuck my tongue in the leccy outlet.

[@MrBLUEDEVILUK]

That third pastille was not to be sniffed at lol. I actually lolled Jon well done. Love your sense of humour and your style of presenting.

[@john07973]

Good pic of Alf Garnett in the Letchworth section 👍

[@adamjolley8552]

I like this video so I pressed the button specifically for that 👉🏻

[@willtricks9432]

Stalwart action, keep up the good work.

[@WagnerGimenes]

"Other specialist ingredients", you say 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Nice one, Jon.

[@stephenwoodrow1334]

As an Alleynes old Boy we had to visit St. Nic's church a lot. I miss those good old days (1980's) but don't miss Stevenage. Another great video...thanks

[@billywindsock9597]

I lived in Ware for over twenty years, lovely place.

[@drnick0]

been watching vids on this channel for a while now (since Secrets of the Motorway), and I still giggle every time John says "whhhicked sweet awesome" 😆

[@aaronk534]

Glaxo smith is nothing shady, its obviously a research facility for happier bunnies and better hugs

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

9:00 - this music really reminds me of Ron Grainer's theme for 'The Prisoner'! I guess Stevenage is a less architecturally interesting version of The Village/Portmerion! :D

[@CheshireTomcat68]

9:46 Soooo Goldie Looking Chain!!!

[@bethaltair812]

I was hoping for the train at van hages, but the intrigue of GSK was good! There's another two in and near Harlow....one was verrry small and if you tried to look in from the moorhen path security appeared to stop you being there. Widely regarded to be something to do with animals,probably not a petting zoo.

[@jimkats1]

Hello to you too Jon, I love this enthusiastic intro, with the sunny weather and the dog :d

[@tommccallister]

There is a roundabout-like feature that appears on an Ordnance Survey map, published in 1882, at the junction of Walthall St and Alton St in Crewe. It is absent from later revisions as the area became built up with terraced housing for the railway works.

[@joebenn996]

We live in Letchworth and use Sollershot Circus often - thank you for the mention, the town is very proud of that roundabout! I didn't know that only going around one way came much later though.

[@alexsingleton2144]

Pub garden, cold pint, on with the latest from Mr Shenanigans. Entertaining as ever Jon!

[@minibus9]

Awesome video, really intresting findign out about diffrent parts of the country

[@andyrbush]

That was interesting.

[@andyknowles4261]

You obviously missed the pun on the Letchworth roundabout sign (mind you, so did QI!), built circa 1909! Circa means approximately or roundabout, and as the town was meticulously planned, it must be known when exactly it was built. Nice video, thanks Jon.

[@theroadblog2858]

Cocaine pastils, not bad. I love your level of detail, and reserch. Great work!

[@richardbrooks50]

Regarding maltings there still one just down the road from Ware in Stansted Abbots called French and Jupps been operating for over 200 years

[@nickanderson141186]

When the winds in the right direction I can smell it from my gaff in Hoddesdon!! Wonder if Hoddesdon is on the next road trip 😬

[@whyyoulidl]

@@nickanderson141186 wonder how he'll shoe-horn saying dobbs weir into the script?

[@247vanmanBirmingham]

Can't wait to see what this guys next car is 🎉😂

[@hannahellis4549]

Woo watching from BSE!

[@303playa]

I ❤yer tone of presentation ... ❤️😎❤️

[@geoffashden2]

I worked at the Glaxo facility in Ware and believe me you wouldn't want to know what went on there!

[@wreython]

You must be doing something right here Jon - even mother nature likes to join in - a dog helping with the intro!

[@AL-zg5qs]

Bit warm for the woollen headgear? Surely time for Jon to sport a Panama hat to match the season.

[@myonlydemandisbacktowork8759]

8:59 what a gorgeous, lovely, wonderful, fascinating place 🤣

[@whyyoulidl]

😂

[@ianker7143]

'Malt-growing fields of Suffolk' sounds disconcertingly like the BBC's April Fools Day report on the Italian Spaghetti Harvest.

[@DavidMorley]

I went to school in Letchworth - Somebody who I knew very well and someone he knew very well (?) borrowed the school minibus and parked it on the roundabout mentioned one night. The school was displeased.

[@whyyoulidl]

Bet he must have been from St. Christopher's?

[@DavidMorley]

@@whyyoulidl indeed

[@shanebradley6524]

Thanks for another brilliant video but how can you pass through Stevenage without mentioning Vincent Motorcycles?

[@matt-squires]

Although I probably shouldn't admit to it, I live right next to the roundabout you're stood under when you first say "Stevenage"! If I'd known you were round you could have had a coffee!

[@binarydinosaurs]

Ah, another one of my old stomping grounds, though I had no idea about the first roundabout so that's an excellent thing to learn. You almost touched Wadesmill, if not drove through it. I nearly bought a house there but was put off by the fact that the house was on one side of the A10 (as was at the time) and my garden was on the other. After I'd moved to Cambs they only went and bypassed the place. Still, at least that meant I didn't have to drive through Bishop's Stortford again.

[@weetabrix88]

Excellent vid as usual!!

[@chrisbradshaw6883]

Is the A602 the furthest A-road from its M-equivalent, the M602 in Salford?

[@martinhowe1422]

You could have had the YT Vid of the year award if the dog had shat in answer to your 'What do you think about Stevenage?' question. So close to ultimate comedy gold.....

[@CaptainMannyUK]

Sunday lunch..check. Auto Shenanigans sunday vid...check. relax.

[@darthwiizius]

Letchworth was built over three villages mate, Norton on the opposite side and Willian right next to Letchworth. The old manor house is now a hotel of dubious reputation locally and the church is the oldest building. Fun fact about St Nick's in Scumenage, the spire was for a couple of centuries the tallest man made point between London and Leicester, shame they built the town really. I mean, who thought that providing architects with just set squares was a good idea eh? BTW, all cities are towns.

[@David_Crayford]

Lots of interesting stuff here. Dad worked for Beechams in London, among other places, and this was taken over by GSK. It looks like Jon specifically does NOT want a suntan. Hat, hoodie and long strides, even on a bloomingly gorgeous sunny day. ☀

[@paulknight5018]

05:07 jusr by that underpass was where I was very close to being hit by a fence falling during a storm in 1990. St Nicks church was on my cross country school route and I was a cleaner at GSK when they were building it, the money they wasted was increadible. Thankfully moved out of Stevenage at 19.

[@chrisbeaven6521]

I have lived in Stevenage for the last 30 years and yes it is in dire need of some serious investment including the widening the A1(M) which has never materalised but it depends on which parts are referenced rather than stating that it is a just a new town in the Home Counties. It is only 20 minutes by train into London, also home to the Lister Hospital, several parks including Fairlands, miles of cycle paths and even has a Costco here. I would rather live here rather than some of the hell holes in the Greater London area. It has always had a majority Labour council here as well and the sitting MP has always sat on the government benches in parliament since the constituency was formed in its own right.

[@trickygoose2]

Yes the parliamentary constituency is what the Americans would call a bellwether.

[@k.r.baylor8825]

True this: "Stevenage: Because You Could Do Much Worse"

[@stephenknight4862]

Love how you word stuff.........Specialist Ingredients lol

[@pwatsonuk]

Great video John - I grew up in Ware and now having been living in Hitchin for 24 years (with a break between in West London for a bit)

[@brianalder2234]

5th of July the election !😱😱. Nope! let's watch Auto Shenanigans 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@barrieshepherd7694]

Excellent - That jingle appearing "out of nowhere" at 4.58 took me by surprise - came at me from far left! Good audio edit.

[@bobevansIW]

Brilliant 😂. I was unfortunate to be born in Stevenage in the early 60's, thankfully moving away after 12 years!! Today, I believe the residents call it St. Evenage 😂😂

[@evilutionltd]

The only 2 things that should ever happen to lavender is, either add it to old person products or leave it in the ground for the bees.

[@johnlbirch]

Where John was filming that segment is also an ancient plateway - at the bottom of the hill you can see parts of it still in place. Yet no-one seems to know why it was there.

[@philhawley1219]

A few sprigs of lavender hanging from your ceiling keeps flies out of your house in the summer.

[@evilutionltd]

@@johnlbirch so, much like your totally off topic reply?

[@johnlbirch]

@@evilutionltd Meh - it's the sort of thing Jon often goes for.

[@IverKnackerov]

Stevenage ….what a hole. Makes Luton look a decent option

[@dodgydruid]

The research place used to be in Beckenham if memory serves me right and with land prices in and around there they decided to find something cheaper and cash in on Oscar Wellcome's estate big time which they did, my aunty and nan knew Oscar very well as he was a man about town in Sydenham and Forest Hill where a lot of his workforce lived and well liked by the locals.

[@samanthasimms9630]

Can't wait for you to do thr ar+e of Hertfordshire.... Watford

[@stevewilson8467]

A roundabout you can go any way you want? Sounds like Malta..

[@RedKnight-fn6jr]

Doesn't Swindon have one of those...

[@davidgould9431]

4:06 "in a bit of an odd way". I suspect Little Wymondley's women had read Aristophanes - specifically, his 'Lysistrata'. Google is your friend.

[@highpath4776]

Take a look at the London Transport Country Area - specifically Green Line of the 1960s. Beautiful illustrations of the country towns surrounding london that could be reached by a Green Line coach from Central London (Victoria. Marble Arch. Oxford Circus or Aldgate Minories)

[@hublanderuk]

Well I now know what under the A10 Viaduct near Ware looks like. Every time I drive my Parents up the A10 to take them to my sisters in Stevenage. Somebody always says "Ware are we" "Don't know Ware we are" anybody got any new one's for my next trip. 🤣

[@Outwhere]

The viaduct crosses a nice area of flood meadows. I used to go there quite a bit so I was excited by seeing the viaduct, haha!

[@whyyoulidl]

Maybe try tyre wear?

[@Huckleberry.69]

My wife must be taking a leaf out of the women's bypass protest at the moment.

[@2760ade]

My missus has been 'protesting' for years!🤣

[@Phuc_Yhou]

I wouldn't mind but my gang built our towns bypess 21 years ago and I'm still not back in the game 😳

[@2760ade]

@@Phuc_Yhou I feel your pain!