Great British Road Journeys - Northamptonshire - Wollaston to Daventry Ep. 12

#infrastructure #driving #northamptonshire #wellingborough #cars
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This week we're off on another Northamptonshire based adventure. We'll learn more of the shoe and boot industry that the county was built on, take a look at a few abandoned buildings and there's also some cock and bell end. That's not all, in Wellingborough, there are wells, it's almost like the town was named after them. An abandoned hotel awaits us in Daventry and on the way there's an abandoned road. This really is an exciting road journey.... enjoy.
Using a copy of the 1923 Michelin Guide, I'll be travelling the country to see what remains and what's changed since it's publication. The guide offers suggestions on thing to see and where to stay all with the goal of getting you out there and exploring in your motor vehicle.

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

10:16 - "...when visiting Daventry, leave Daventry immediately..."

[@YetAnotherGeorgeth]

As true back then as it is today, even if it feels like it takes forever with the stupid "bypass" north of the town!

[@David_Crayford]

This seems to be a common theme. For Luton, the sole reason for the airport was to leave town as quickly as possible.

[@edwinfitchett6033]

wise advice

[@sputumtube]

He says these things so 'dryly' that I almost spat out my beer..!

[@SMX815]

True!

[@Duncan23]

Sunday has officially started!

[@jasonali4122]

I am in Hong Kong, and we are currently 7 hours ahead of the UK. For me, it feels like I am wrapping up the weekend.

[@kevincorby435]

Yep, in Sydney, this is my relax before bed vid.

[@kelvinhill9874]

I’m in Perth Western Australia. So it is my post dinner evening entertainment. It’s almost 8:30pm now. Next up is the Jago Hazzard video.

[@user-xh3lz9xt4l]

Next up Paul Whitewick at 5pm

[@samholdsworth420]

Sunday funday 😊

[@edenstyle7]

I never thought I'd see the day Auto Shenanigans came to my town. I feel so validated. Or violated. One or the other.

[@dandann8237]

probably both

[@andrewthomas8370]

Me neither, even more surprised to see the village I grew up in! This now goes down as a claim to fame....... Or not!

[@edwardshepherd8074]

What I enjoy most about these videos is the complex and intricate humour.

[@johnnyrandom100]

I used to live in Weedon. About 12 of us in a house along the A45 next to the canal. We were a bit noisy there was a petition to get us thrown out, so we all signed it

[@nathanw9770]

And they threw out the A45 instead. Plot twist.

[@PeterSlack83]

@@nathanw9770 I will look forward to that video :D

[@adamjolley8552]

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

[@sdavidb5620]

Me too!

[@totalrecone]

Well that's wicked sweet awesome.

[@daelra]

I was brought up in Northampton (the less said, the better). However, Wollaston was on my radar mostly for the Nags Head pub which was very surprising for a village pub that regularly had *VERY* good bands playing there. John Peel was the resident DJ and helped run some of the nights there so you (well my dad) could get to see The Who, The Faces, Thin Lizzy and Rod Stuart. It was still putting on great bands eighties with the likes of U2, Bauhaus and Killing Joke (which was more my thing) with John Peel still turning up to DJ/host.

[@duncan649]

It's the little nooks and crannies in this small island that are so much more interesting than the boring places that tourists always go. Give me an abandoned petrol station or filled in canal every time.

[@RAMBLINGSMANJMB]

A week with no reference to small disagreements.. you feeling ok haha 🤣🤣

[@8bitwiz_]

Perhaps there is no disagreement about leaving Daventry.

[@chriswalford4161]

The references are becoming tantalisingly oblique, with the discussion of the ordnance depôt.

[@David_D.]

"Loved by ska bands and the EDL." 🤣🤣🤣

[@Sarge084]

I had the misfortune of staying in a hotel in Daventry for 10 weeks, a most horrendous experience,!!! The food there left a lot to be desired. I was left with a fear of farting after a particularly bad case of the trots! Thanks for reminding me about it Jon!

[@MartinvonBargen]

Dysentery in Daventry would have been an amazing 1980s BBC sitcom.

[@baldfatgit1]

quality 🤩

[@Sarge084]

@@MartinvonBargen With the sequel titled 'Afraid to Fart'.

[@barrieshepherd7694]

I sat waiting for an uplifting whimsical mention of the National Lift Tower but it was not to be 🤣

[@LukeStevensPhoto]

As soon as I saw Woollaston in the title, I knew Bell End would be featured. The sign at the bottom of Bell End used to have an arrow pointing up the hill, but it wasn't there last time I went past. I imagine it was because people kept posing there with the arrow pointing to themselves. That's certainly what I did.

[@MrRiclaw]

Not far from Bell End in Wollaston is Back Way

[@M_Jenkins]

Interestingly, you didn't mention anything about one of the small disagreements, but at Upper Stowe near Weedon, RADAR was invented. Really helpful during those 'small disagreements' that happen every now and again

[@JohnSmithShields]

Snark, abandoned infrastructure, old buildings, a history lesson and constructive views on nature. Brilliant.

[@WilliamDavidKirbyUK]

Well Im glad you managed to "cobble" together that episode. Much loved and enjoyed. Especially "Bell End"

[@robertturner4955]

A Dower House is where the widow of the estate's owner would live when her oldest son took over the Great House. There are hundreds of Dower Houses dotted around the countryside.

[@paulgee6111]

Gotta love the River Nennornene!😁

[@joewilson941]

We don't pronounce it "neen" here in Northampton 🤣 it's an ongoing battle with Peterborough as for some reason once you pass a certain county border they start calling the Nene, the Neen 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@raynarnslr1966]

0:20 in I'm laughing already😂! Doc Martin and Weetabix thanks for the tour. Safe travels Jon.

[@MYCROFTonX]

I took a picture of Bell End, standing exactly where you are in 2021... made me chuckle!

[@alexsingleton2144]

Same, in 2019. Stag night invite! Seemed appropriate....

[@tanyano9]

Not far from Minge lane....

[@jhrickman-is1mu]

I was at the *Northampton race course today. V nice place for a Sunday stroll actually. Did you notice the White Elephant pub on the corner? So named, I believe, because it was built as a hotel at great expense just before the racecourse closed as a racecourse.

[@paulknight5018]

Was convinced Jon was going to put a jump scare at the end....

[@kevknight8871]

John, Apart From The Great Content You Present Us With Week In, Week Out, Your Little One Liners Always Make Me Laugh. You Are And Will Always Be, One Of My Go Too's On a Sunday. Keep Doing What You Do Matey, You're a Bigger Asset To Us Than You Will Ever Know. 👏

[@stuartmiller6725]

well said!

[@k.r.baylor8825]

@@stuartmiller6725 With extra capitalization throughout...

[@Technaudio]

I go through Wollaston on the way to Santa Pod, and always snigger at Bell End. There's also a Rotten Row.

[@topmandog1]

always watch these after cooking and eating sunday dinner

[@FailedMuso]

I once attended a manager's conference at the Landmark Hotel when I was employed by Choices Video in the late 90s. A quite memorable event, if only for the room-hopping shenanigans! Video store managers are seemingly incredibly nocturnally active creatures! 😉 Fond memories though. I always get a twinge of nostalgia when passing, dampened by the fear of a possible paternity suit!! 😆

[@Nickk_o]

Thanks for visiting Weedon, John. I grew up in Northampton (got away 10 years ago now!) and my grandparents lived in a retired housing building right next to the depot and the drone footage of it gave me instant nostalgia. I could recognize exactly where their building was in relation to that footage because I spent so much time as a boy looking at and walking past the depot itself and it made me remember and miss both of them again for the first time in, ashamedly, years. Here's to Rex and Dorothy

[@PenryMMJ]

Another very good video Jon, despite it containing a load of old cobblers 😁

[@andykilvington1651]

Love it! Our vocalist lives in Weedon and we're gigging at The White Hart in Flore on 11/05/2024, a place we've played a few times before. Locals apparently call Daventry Chaventry 😁😁😁

[@danielwillits2173]

Very excited to see if the jacket and hat come off as the weather gets warmer

[@johnboyle9682]

Jacket? Yes. Hat? No.

[@paulkrenz9593]

Immensely enjoyable

[@john07973]

Excellent 👍 Upper Heyford Northants not to be confused with Upper Heyford Oxfordshire 30 miles away where the US Air Force base was located

[@stevekelly5166]

Bell End. I drive through it regularly on the way to Santa Pod. I'll think of you this Wednesday 🙂 Murco fuel would be delivered via Northampton or Kingsbury oil depots, and certainly not from Milford Haven by road tanker. Just checked the route of the pipeline. Milford Haven to Kingsbury depot. It would have then been road to Daventry. Further, Murco no longer have a refinery at M.H., just storage.

[@lewis72]

Point of note: Suggs of Madness reportedly drove along the A45, although he never stated which section. He got up to 58 mph.

[@alexsingleton2144]

It won't have been the Northampton bypass, 58mph is wishful thinking along there.

[@David_Crayford]

Good spot! Love that track and Madness in general. "Michael Caine" in particular. We are going to miss him when he's gone. Makes you proud to be British.

[@whyyoulidl]

​@@David_Crayford "bloody" , "doors" and "off" 😂

[@David_Crayford]

@@whyyoulidl 🙂

[@David_Crayford]

@@alexsingleton2144 This was released in 1982, so perhaps not quite so many drivers!

[@jamescampling2413]

Santa Pod was like, right there

[@Dan23_7]

Jon, jon, oh Jon. You could’ve visited the National lift tower (built by express lifts) It’s really high !! It’s in the video at 4:35. I deliver to a storage company right next to it. It’s concrete and really impressive 👍🏼 My cousin lives in Northampton too.

[@WangoBango]

I need this know what’s under your hat. I think about it more than I should do.

[@martinoutdoors6941]

“Don’t worry I can assure you it gets shitter later on” 😂😂😂

[@buoyfun]

Love your Vlogs. The recent ones of Northamptonshire have a special place in my childhood memories. Loakes, Doc Martens, pubs with Cock in their name etc.

[@JamieKnight23]

Had no idea about the Whitworth mill in Turvey... another rabbit hole to go down on the internet, thanks Jon!

[@tomball84]

I grew up in Northampton, grandparents lived next to the Racecourse, went to school at Wollaston and now live 300 metres away from the Daventry border with Warwickshire. I thought I'd mention another local shoe co-operative between the factories in Grendon, Olney, Lavendon & Bozeat. Using the first letters of the villages they somehow came up with the brand name Gola...anyone remember those crappy trainers and football boots? Very surprised you didn't get stabbed at Redwell, Cock Hotel junction or The Racecourse to be honest! Also surprised the guide book didn't mention The Guildhall in Northampton which is a stunning piece of architecture and shame you didn't stop at the old Pearce Leatherworks headquarters just outside Weston Favell on the A4500 which was a stunning piece of Art Deco architecture until it was sold to developers about 15 years ago and left to rot :( The old bus station you mentioned was actually sold dirt cheap to Prada in the 2000s for redevelopment as a factory extension for Church's Shoes. The council have now paid Prada top whack for it and will be selling it at a discount to some other property developers. Local rumours say that Queen Elizabeth II fitted a piece of glass (or a tile, wasn't paying attention) in that factory and therefore it has some sort of listing in place. Totally agree with you about the Flore bypass, the council claimed that they won't allow developers to link onto the bypass but I suppose they haven't seen a large enough envelope stuffed with cash yet. You'll be pleased to hear that the abandoned/unused road off the A4500 Harpole should be in use very soon, the clever council forgot to buy all the land for it and are now in "positive" negotiations with Homes England to buy the final bit at a vastly overinflated price no doubt. The top half of the road that will eventually join it was opened this week much to the delight of local residents and businesses. On the subject of Daventry, they are trying to do a town regeneration consultation at the moment which has caused outrage in the local area. In my response to it, I suggested they improve the outskirts, specifically bulldozing the Landmark Hotel, scrapyard next door and shoddy 60s industrial units across the road. I even sent them a link to this very video, hope you don't mind!

[@xr6lad]

Watching this video and blow me over a Weetabix advert appears in the middle of the video.

[@natalieislovely]

I've been robbed on the Racecourse, chased through it, around it, taken shelter in the White Elephant, the Picturedrome, etc. Not a place to be at night.

[@HTJB60]

I came across this by accident and thourolly enjoyed it. I lived in Northant's for 40 year's, cycle touring the area for about 10 of them and think it's one of the nicest counties in mainland UK. I've lived in Daventry, Northampton & Wellingborough as well as 3 other northant's villages and it was fasinating seeing this guided tour. My sone lives in Weedon & I've toured the Armory (fasinating). I lived one street behind the 'Race Course when it held the Balloon Festival and the Balloons would come over our house & garden most launches. Fantasic sight's. Great memory's. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[@daveabbott]

10:10 About 200 yards South from that hotel there is a small summit on the old A45 and 30 yards closer is, or was, a layby, in which an AA van was permanently parked. The reason - the signal from the Daventry transmitter was somehow concentrated or maybe just stronger at that point, and it caused cars fitted with the then new Electronic Ignition, notably the Talbot Samba, to completely cut-out and the lay-by was there to allow them to coast to a stop. The AA man would simply tell them to restart their car and continue onwards as the signal by that location had diminished. I lived in Daventry back in the 80's! (I did recover and all right now!)

[@southcalder]

I feel educated. I assumed Northamptonshire was just one big distribution park. Turns out that only makes up about 85% of it.

[@SGM260190]

Love the sassy comments, John.

[@ianreynolds9733]

I lived in Wollaston for a year recently and always smirked as I walked past Bell End. The main Doctor Martens factory/shop was also around the corner. As usual a cracking insight fella!

[@razghost2]

So the race course was closed due to a high number of fatalities and eventually replaced with a park that sees a high number of robberies and assault, the land's cursed!

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

You crack me up Jon. Love it.

[@infidelcastro5129]

Fine thanks. Not really, no. Been off work sick. But thanks for asking 😊

[@roderickmain9697]

Ah...Northampton. Somewhere in the late 80s I was a member of singles club which had one of its meetings in a hotel on the outskirts. We were advised by locals that town centre pubs were probably inadvisable to visit for non locals. A lot of them had bouncers on the doors (I can testify to at least one). I have a dim memory of going to Scotland in the early 60s where Weedon was the end of the M1 but earth moving and construction was in full swing for the next section.

[@MichaelAbbott-sl2di]

I love the way you edit your own outtakes ❤

[@RowDogTV]

Hi John it is an absolute pleasure to join you for another one of your Great British Road Journeys 😊

[@James-Henderson]

That is the highlight of Daventry :) I used to work there and live near, I moved to Devon, not sure why! 😂

[@ste2442]

I shared a room in Bosnia with a lad from Wellingborough called Smudger . Absolute effin weirdo who used to knock one out watching star treck .

[@euanmcgill918]

"Built out of necessity", looks more like bricks to me

[@matthewstokes707]

Ancient archeology will reveal the ruins of not only a Burger King, but also a Happy Eater, next to the Spend 'n' save, next to the John O'Gaunt Hotel.

[@andrewthomas8370]

Great video Jon, never thought I'd see my home village Wollaston on your travels but then again it does have one very famous end... Probably made famous by the crowds that attend the nearby Santa pod!

[@tucker9162]

Can't believe you didn't cover the old abandoned Lift testing tower in Northampton. Was it bulit by Taylor Whimpey?

[@jhrickman-is1mu]

Express Lifts. Sadly no more

[@AndrewwMK]

Bell end finally getting some well deserved attention!

[@paulrobinson3528]

Can't wait for the "Fosse Way" story

[@joewilson941]

I live just outside of Northampton and watching you in areas around the town i know like the back of my hand was wierd yet wonderful. I drive past that abandoned hotel & petrol station on my way to & from work daily 😂 no mention of the state of the roads... Surprising. Loved seeing my hometown on Auto Shenanigans, genuinely never expected it 🤣 cheers John!

[@borderlands6606]

For vintage folks, Daventry will be forever synonymous with the transmitter.

[@shaunwest3612]

Great video John, amazing as always, very funny and interesting 😀👍👌

[@spitfire1962]

As already mentioned, there was no talk of the 1939-1945 tussle, even though Jon was at an old Army/Ordinance building. Also no trains, as these were sur planted by Trams in this episode. My eldest brother was a bus driver in Northampton back in the 70’s and luckily they have since demolished the old bus station in the centre of Northampton that was a monstrosity of a building. Another great whicked, awesome episode.

[@graemeclifford6358]

Fun Fact: Northamptonshire has many "bell ends" 😂

[@traceycheckley4476]

Ahhhh you drove right past us! You could have popped in for a cuppa. Plus we have one of the most historic churches in the county! Great vid 👍

[@Anonymoususer_2023]

As you are in Northamptonshire and passing through Northampton. You should do A508 with the new bypass that was built to allow traffic to avoid the small village of Roade that had a silent “e”.

[@tonylee-delisle7954]

I used to drive past the barracks in Weedon frequently and always wondered what it was - thanks

[@pagjake]

Love your videos mate! Helps being a lorry driver I get to see bits and pieces as I drive about every week and notice things you’ve mentioned in your videos. (Side note) You should definitely do A roads. Could be several parts just on just a few miles. Would keep us viewers coming back for years!

[@hairyairey]

Weetabix is made from wheat grown within approximately 50 miles of their factory. Which includes fields near my house.

[@Fred-gu6pk]

You didnt mention the balloon festival which used to launch from the race course. It has stopped now.

[@steveurquhart5895]

Thanks so much for the Shenanigans 🙂

[@matthewcoleman8267]

First time I’ve seen my house on a KZbin video! I live on the housing development between the two depot sites. Weedon is a cracking village to live in.

[@EdwardKane-pb5rj]

Used those same style of tram shelters in my hometown (Blackpool) into the early/ mid 1990's to catch buses to sixth form and tram into town to go out. Breezy, offering little protection as there was no glass on them and yet still an overwhelming smell of piss....

[@ncbhtc]

The Landmark Hotel was originally the John O'Gaunt Hotel and it appears from Googles in was built on land previously owned by John O'Gaunt then Duke of Lancaster. You'll soon find the owner if you use the search engine specially for that. The major shareholder being 91 years old, probably why the closed it back in 2008. As a child I regularly passed the Hotel incl. when it was being built on the way to my Grandparents in Kettering where my Parents and Brother were born, I was lucky and born in Bedford. Yay! Looking forward to your arrival in Warwickshire and having a go at Billy Shakespeare.

[@PaddyWV]

Funny how many of the old guide books make a thing of mentioning churches. I remember H.V. Morton in his "In Search of...." Books, giving a mention to those he passed. Well done for calling out the policy of "Paying for roads by building houses all round them". We'll never learn. I had a local Council admit to this, in the very opposite of their public promotional stance thirty years ago.

[@dodgydruid]

The only non Northants "cushion sole" bootmaker was Blackman's of Hackney, people assume Dr Marten was the one all, be all to these boots but Solovair and others like Blackmans also made their own boots utilising the earwax coloured soles and goodyear welting which refers to the moulding of the sole to the leather upper. Back in the eighties those of us of the shorter hair persuasion found solace in a chap who worked at Blackman's who if you went to the back door of the factory asking for said chap he would offer you 8-10 hole booties in black or oxblood for a tenner and often mates would load me up with brown papery noteness and a size and I would trudge round the back and hand over a list of sizes and out they would come in a black sack to be taken back to safer lands of south London as being a Millwall "lad of note" being found in the east end was not nice and usually involved with a lot of curling up into a ball and hoping they didn't find yer happy sacks... Today I own quite a selection of DM soled dealers, a pair of very expensive DM oxblood loafers, couple pairs 14 holers, also have a set of WW2 pattern ammo boots, a pair of Austrian special forces NATO issue boots and a set of the shit current issue British Army "lavender" brown crappy boots which I wouldn't give to my worst enemy they are that shite :(

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Oh ello! Local now! Excellent!

[@progamerevshorts9703]

I have started a series on my main channel that you might like. It’s my latest video. Thank you Auto Shenanigans for letting me have some interest in roads and inspiring me to make this series happen. My main channel is called Pro Gamer Ev.

[@braderzjamez3197]

Another great Vid 👍🏾👍🏾

[@opathe2nd973]

This is one of those videos you watch and if you watch a second time, you find even more humor. Laid back and they say in the States. Good job as usual!

[@geoffreylee5199]

Daventry had a large Shortwave Radio station until many worldwide stations closed.

[@richardcoles4137]

Thanks for a very quick peek of home

[@tanyano9]

As a restident of dysenteryI can confirm the disused petrol station was a Texaco petrol station....

[@francisnewmarch6837]

Fantastic made my afternoon 😂

[@LukeStevensPhoto]

The ordinance depot in Weedon Beck is an excellent place to stop if you're into cars or bikes. There are a few industrial themed cafes there and they regularly host car and bike meets.

[@k.r.baylor8825]

I did the same thing. A quick search under "The Royal Ordnance Depot", Weedon Bec, Northampton, took me to the-depot -.- uk, and enough history and photos about the historic site to make it an interesting diversion. A cool business development location for those in the area...

[@frankmoseley3214]

Thanks!

[@buoyfun]

Thanks

[@jamesabbott5242]

Awesome Video

[@brianlehman710]

Another excellent episode. Thanks

[@ryleehoward3197]

Love the stuff great to see all towns getting included !

[@theclassicso8094]

My favorite part of Sunday are your videos. Thank you very much. 🚕

[@kevinhall7518]

Great fella all together

[@kingcal53]

4:38 - Would recognise that place anywhere, Harborough Road in Kingsthorpe. Lived on the Kingsthorpe Grove for a couple of years whilst at uni up at Park Campus. Walked past many a time heading to the Safeway and the Queen Ad.

[@Blade_Daddy]

Loved the pun about flour.

[@mickapps3153]

Thankyou

[@funky1982]

Thank you

[@tobyjackman3212]

This is the best video I've ever seen about anything