Secrets Of LONDON'S LOST MOTORWAYS - M41 A40M A102M

#motorway #infrastructure #london
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London. A big city that used to have it's own motorway network... although network may not be the correct term. Either way, in this video we'll be exploring London and it's Motorways that some of you may not have known existed., to be fair, they don't now but that doesn't mean they're gone completely...
*Special thanks
www.roads.org.uk
David Cane

[@AsphaltAntelope]

Grenfell Tower at @<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="268">4:28</a> - never forget.

[@AutoShenanigans]

What a shame. It was quite sad being nearby during filming.

[@mrxmry3264]

@@AutoShenanigans on the news they said that it's gonna be demolished.

[@AutoShenanigans]

@mrxmry3264 Yes indeed. I'm sure lessons were learned. Until next time.

[@Skorpychan]

@mrxmry3264 Good. If it was unsafe before, it must be REALLY unsafe now. Stick a memorial garden in instead, so they can't build another tower block there.

[@malcolmking7926]

If you're a cat and you'd like to bite something I've got an arm specifically for that. That was a superb bit of ... erm... info-tainment? Well done Jon.

[@TheTimTri]

This might be one of your best videos so far. The wealth of research and camera work is especially good here. Well done!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks!

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="815">13:35</a> - great cat cameo, Jon! This is a really good documentary film that compliments videos by Jay Foreman and Jago Hazzard on related topics of unfinished London, urban planning, and 60s/70s Brutalist architecture.

[@lifebites21]

John, Jay & Jago! The Holy J'inity

[@vastariner]

@@lifebites21 The British Triple J. (one for the Aussies there)

[@jasinere35]

jay formemans unfinished london series

[@tims9434]

Jago is a pretty boring subject of most interest to Londoners. I lost interest a while ago being a proud non-Londoner

[@mardymarvin8441]

Glad to see the cat listened and then showed you who was boss :)

[@RalfyCustoms]

Hello Jon, hope you're keeping well mate, thanks for visiting London, so we don't have to 🎉

[@ukar69]

The north part of the 102, during the Olympics, had one lane reserved specifically for VIP traffic. I lived on the Isle of Dogs at the time and there were Olympic BMWs everywhere. I'm pretty convinced the Olympics is one big money laundering operation. The money spent for what is essentially a couple of weeks of sport is staggering.

[@garthcox4307]

That's why most countries don't want to stage it any more, and the commonwealth games even less so

[@stuartd9741]

I think the whole government is a ML scheme. Look at that, was it a bat bridge in another of Jon's videos that cost 300M?

[@stickynorth]

Oh yeah. It's great if you are a corporate contractor looking to inflate the cost of your work! If you look at WHO is bidding now? It falls into two camps... English-speaking Commonwealth + USA (London, Brisbane and Los Angeles) or Emerging Regional Superpowers especially the 2036 Olympic bids... The 4 that are officially "in talks" are 5-time bidder Istanbul, the unfinished Indonesian federal capital of Nusantara, Santiago Chile and un named city in India to be named later either New Delhi or most likely Modi's home town of Ahmedabad...

[@tonys1636]

@@stickynorth UK Ltd. earned a staggering amount of VAT from the 2012 London Olympics and also a lot in much needed Purchase Tax revenue from the 1948 games that was designated to be held in Europe, no other country had the Stadia or could build them, London still had many from the 1908 games and pre war Empire Games that could be brought back into use cheaply so stepped in. Wembley was built for a 30's Empire Games, hence the old name of Empire Stadium and Empire Pool, a Swimming Pool and Ice Rink now a Conference Centre. Herne Hill had the Velodrome, although outdoor and there was White City Stadium, Earls Court, Pool and Ice Rink and the old Kensington Olympia hall from 1908.

[@dcx45]

No mention of the stupid, stupid lights junction added to cross the A12 right after the tunnel going north (Zetland St.) that was added round about the Olympics from what I recall, maybe later. Completely unnecessary, just has traffic build up.

[@ATtravel666]

Lovely shot of your producer and director at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="817">13:37</a>. Glad we got to see something of your production team.

[@AutoShenanigans]

It explains why our budget for dreamies increases month by month.

[@sandwichbar8226]

Hello Jon, how the devil are you, have you had a good week?

[@alsner73]

I concur.

[@somerandomguywastaken]

I concur x2

[@iancharlton678]

Ditto 😊

[@mortenpoulsen1496]

Ditto too

[@dunatyphon5416]

Agreed :)

[@Puckoon2002]

Trellick tower was opened in 1972, it was commissioned by the Greater London Council and designed in the Brutalist style by architect Ernő Goldfinger. The name of the villein, in the Bond film Goldfinger, Auric Goldfinger, was chosen by Ian Fleming because Ernő, who had built his home in Hampstead next door to Fleming's; he disliked Goldfinger's style of architecture and destruction of Victorian terraces.

[@andymerrett]

That's a big steaming pile of art.

[@amandahill7410]

“Odd sticky out bit “😂 love it Jon

[@antonycharnock2993]

I think we all have one of those.

[@JohnSmithShields]

Technical analysis!!!!!

[@chrisblay]

Appreciation from the Cat 🐈‍⬛ at the end.

[@antonycharnock2993]

Nice to see Jon has full obedience from his cat "slap"

[@dougmorris2134]

That cat is a purrrfect star with attitude ⭐️🐈‍⬛⭐️❤️

[@1946Ash]

I don’t subscribe to this channel because there’s a button specifically for that. I do it because it’s a history lesson wrapped up in an entertaining package. Thanks Jon.

[@tims9434]

Do you subscribe or not then? Your edited sentence includes both options.

[@rossclark4589]

I liked this video, so I pressed the button specifically for that.

[@TheCardiganR]

The A40(M) was 'my road' before i moved away. I used to be a despatch rider around London in the mid 80s and coming from west London, this was my route to and from work. Rush hour traffic was always nose to tail and me and my flatmate would ride flat out between the traffic to get to Marylebone Station first. Loser bought the tea. 😊 Back then you could officially do 70mph on it, nowadays its 30mph which is a bastard to stick to when its free flowing. Cameras everywhere these days though...

[@clemo49]

I was living in West London when the Westway extension was being built. Originally the A40 Westway ended at a T junction by the White City Stadium. Turn left and Scrubs Lane took you up to the Harrow Road at Harlesden. Turn south and Wood Lane took you past the BBC TV Centre down to Shepherds Bush. Once opened someone cleverly remarked that after spending all that money, the result was that the traffic jam was moved a couple of miles eastward. Progress eh?

[@iancharlton678]

I pressed it I did 🎉 Interesting view of the A102M….. early eighties we loaded up with shonky cheap furniture in Walthamstow, then wound our way onto the A102M…….. three lanes of delinquents in 7500kg Luton box lorries, slapping the sides together, racing for the Blackwall………. Hurling abuse and smokes between open cab windows……….. in the tunnel, all restricted to the left lane, or the clanging of the hanging tubular bells 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶😂🤣 a time before wall to wall CCTV ! Then off out to the Medway towns to deposit some tat. No one died 😂 Coming home, passing over Wick Road on the now A12, changing camber, bend tightening along with sphincter 😮, flat out in our empty truck, for an early finish………. our very own Nürburgring 🏁 Still no death 😅 Carry on Jon - t’is good work 🙂🇬🇧

[@OCOAT]

A lot of work went into that mate. Well done. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@Danny61ll]

Oh that noise from the road in the end scene. 😣 Imagine living next to that. 😵‍💫

[@mojosabien]

Little factoid about ‘the Westway’, during the production of their first album, Herbie Flowers of the band Sky, called one of the tracks they were working on ‘Westway’ because if you started to play it whilst joining the Westway it would finish just as he was to pull off the route again to get home.

[@CryingAutumn]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="330">5:30</a> Trellick tower is extremely important in the band of Gorillaz, being where founders Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn met, along with it being featured in the bands first music video Tomorrow Comes Today in 2000. Trellick tower is also the cover of the bands 2021 EP Meanwhile.

[@gregthomas4119]

I think the clash had links in the area as well

[@steve.b.23]

@@gregthomas4119 That's right. Mick Jones lived with his nan in her flat on the 18th floor of Wilmcote House, slightly closer to central London. The view from the balcony was the inspiration behind some of the lyrics to London's Burning from the first album.

[@tims9434]

Knowledge like this should never die. Thanks for keeping it alive ❤

[@Wavewatcher1699]

Oh this tale made me realise that I too have a soft spot for the Bakerloo but like my soft spot for RTs it's based around age, wood and red things 😂

[@anthonylloyd6094]

The downgrading of the A40(M) effin infuriates me. I used to drive from Brentford to Camden (Electric Ballroom) on a Friday night. Zip in on the dual carriageway at 70 to Edgware Road, then hit the ring road. Then the speed limit was reduced to 60, then the street lighting was removed (WTF with that?) , then 50. Then 40, and finally 30MPH! So eff you tfl for that and for the ulez expansion. Sorry... rant over. Cool vid as always John.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Changed from a motorway to an A road with no warning that it was going to happen, the speeding fines made them a fortune. Eventually they'd made enough profit to put up some bigger signs, but not until after raking it in.

[@anthonylloyd6094]

I might even be inclined to cycle along it from Paddington to Shepherd's Bush.

[@starlight5229]

That was excellent Jon 👌🏻 Back in Battersea when the motorway box scheme was on the cards, they compulsorily purchased a whole street of houses which lay empty for ages and ended up squatted in the 70s before being released back due to the cancellation of the scheme. Nice episode 👍🏻😊

[@MATTY110981]

Trellick Tower has a sister tower in Poplar called Balfron Tower. The architect of both buildings was individual called Ernő Goldfinger. Who was the inspiration of in villain James Bond.

[@howardtayloresq.]

Yes he was! They gambled together at a famous casino called the Clermont Club. My grandfather used to gamble there too. Not making it up either

[@antonycharnock2993]

He had his own flat at the top of Trellick Tower as well. Very Bond Villain. Jago Hazzard has a good video on it. I love all this urban environment stuff.

[@tolby53]

I went up the east London tower in the 80s, I have a fear of heights, and I found it terrifying

[@michaelXXLF]

I came here to mention Goldfinger. Can't believe John missed out on that great name!

[@tims9434]

It's facts like this that draw me to the comments section of all Jon's videos. Thanks for sharing ❤

[@MrPete81]

Ooh, multiple chapters! You do spoil us! 🎉

[@andrewpaterson8604]

Already looking forward to the East London River Crossing video, a vivid memory of my childhood with whole streets in Abbey Wood vacated only to be repopulated a decade later

[@SamLyndonShow]

Really good diagrams and aerial shots. Very easy to follow

[@md-ps2hx]

A totally engrossing video. Very informative, no 'fat' tight editing, great drone work and as always excellent narration

[@nickjenkins9210]

Glad to see that you've got a resposible adult in charge. No wonder the videos are so good.

[@andrewb293]

Two top videos in a week one near where I now live and one where I once worked.

[@chrisparsons949]

A new upload always sparks great delight about Jon's pokey little motoring show 😊

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Great video Jon really enjoyed it and very interesting.

[@oo-ux1om]

Two Sundays in one week. Your excellency you are spoiling us.

[@anthonylloyd6094]

Holland Park....More of a square-about than a roundabout...

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Hi Jon. Thank you for such an interesting and informative episode. Stellar research and production. My closing thought is that Britain has been great at bodging infrastructure projects. 🥴

[@i.m.ps.]

You are an absolute legend, we love you!

[@boohaka]

I grew up near Shepherds Bush/Hollond Park and always wondered why that ‘motorway’ was so ridiculously short! Great info as always! ❤

[@XclusiveAaron]

Never comment on videos really but I've been watching your videos, all of them since basically day one and I absolutely love em👍

[@TheSpudlyMcgudly]

I don't know why I like these particularly niche and highly detailed videos, but I do, very much so. I can't even begin to think about the amount of work you put in to research Jon, but I tip my hat at you sir, and hope you have a very good week.

[@VR-UK]

I officially spat my coffee out at the cat bite!🤣🤣🤣

[@tonypacke6954]

Nice no nonsense documentary. I always get nostalgic watching areas that were my stomping ground when I was fixing photocopiers ten years ago. Happy day, well some of them were! Always expect some low life to grab your camera when you are filming in dubious underpass areas.

[@MisterTea74]

Well despite using the Westway roundabout numerous times over the years I’d never spotted those unbuilt slip roads. Always informative, cheers

[@RedKnight-fn6jr]

I actually loved the A40(M) as a teenager - to me, it's a nice road to travel on!

[@nathanielcleland6566]

My only experience of it apart from being a passenger, was in 2017, when I cycled onto it by mistake at Gloucester Terrace! No prohibitive signs or anything, and as a visitor, no clue what it was like. I just saw the green sign for Oxford and followed it. Not fun. Would not recommend, especially as the hard shoulder was barricaded off over the flyover. I took the first exit, which was onto the A3220 before taking the slip for Westfield.

[@jaymitchell9694]

Another brilliant video mate, thanks for making my Sunday as always!

[@tims9434]

I found this really interesting Jon. Thank you very much. Can't wait for more. Best wishes

[@geoffreycoan]

Great research Jon. I’ve driven a few times down the A40(M) but never realised Trellick Tower was visible from it. Gonna have to look out for it now

[@Dwagginz]

Some lovely shots this week, Jon. The A40M seemed very quiet though - there looked to be works on one side, but the flowing side also seemed quiet.

[@leegriffin1584]

Excellent as ever. For Prog Rock afficionados the first track on Sky's eponymous debut album (1979) was 'Westway'; so called, according to my hazy recollection of the sleeve notes, that the time it took one of the band to drive it while going home was the exact length of the track. I think that band member was the late Herbie Flowers (whom I have never forgiven for writing 'Grandma we love you' despite his playing the opening of 'walk on the wild side').

[@pw3789_quacky]

YESSSSS JOHN!!!! This is the type of content I like!

[@nathanw9770]

Fun fact: The bus route 132 runs along the A102 making it currently the only London bus that runs along an ex-motorway, and one of very few in inner London that run on 50mph roads. It made for a very fun ride when it was operated with Volvo diesels.

[@SierraNovemberKilo]

Well that was interesting. YT decided to interrupt your beautifully crafted report with an advert for the Donkey Sanctuary where we're told donkeys who've experienced standing knee deep in faeces are sent. Nice. So that's what the YT Al Gore Rhythm thinks of the London ringway/motorway box. It ought to get out more, I say. So yes Jon. Very interesting and well worth the effort.

[@karlreading3201]

Banging as always - well done that man :)

[@kabongpope]

Great drone shots! Nice to see the weather cooperating for a change

[@Rebecka_J]

That is one prophetic guide book to have known about motorways. The A102 is mildly interesting to be one of only three A1-numbered roads south the Thames. The others being the A100 (Tower Bridge) and the A101 (Rotherhithe Tunnel). Those numbers they are correct under road numbering rules, unlike the Dartford crossing being the A282 The zones circle London and Edinburgh and take the number of the first clockwise zone, with zone 1 being the A1 to Thames, and zone 2 being the Thames to the A3. With most of the A102(M) now renumbered as part of the A12 it means all three of those crossings have more of the road to the south of the Thames than the north, with the A102 being the most southerly zone 1 road.

[@madnes3286]

I saw you recording this video but didn't realize. Wish I said hello, good video.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yeah mate should have! Next time Im sure...

[@whoarewe7515]

Would you give a autograph?

[@Goldenoldie49]

Your research is very thorough. Yet another excellent video

[@ianstewartorr8455]

I have a uncle in Dover so I’ve driven down that neck of the woods past London dartford crossing etc I’ve driven this route 3 times from Lanarkshire Scotland and what a bloody journey thanks again greetings from Scotland 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@mattzstuff]

Another wicked sweet awesome vid!

[@luckysmiler]

When i was an AApatrol i remember thesticky out bits on the A40M roundabout and they won't blocked off and you could park there and i remember the ship building being empty and the car pound and The Royal Oak Taxi centre .When the Notting Hill film was made some of the crew stayed on the waste land under the Westway

[@SquidwardhatesEVs]

Great video Jon, very educational.

[@myprimergrey90]

I enjoyed that one - well done Jon! 👍

[@Ibis117]

Thank you for that little wander down Memory Lane. Well, three, really. I remember threading through Eltham/Falconwood to get to the Sun in the Sands when visiting family in Kent in the eighties. I think the Blackwall tunnel had a 50mph limit in those days, and it was possible to exceed it, both on the approach, and in the tunnel. Certainly no queues. The Westway was sufficiently different to today, that I managed to collect an SP50, for allegedly, (no, actually, I got the points (3) and the fine(£150)), for 95 in a 50. Only the bit after the Paddington turn-off was 50 limit, the bulk was 60. All 30 now. :-( Happy days.

[@paulsengupta971]

That was enjoyable and fascinating. I used to commute on the A102(M) to university back in the late 1980s so I know that bit of road. Well, I did.

[@marcuscross8051]

I found this video to be interesting and informative, and I'm happy I spent some of my finite time alive watching it.

[@rochellehewston9367]

This was really interesting and very informative. I knew about the A40M, I assumed it was supposed to be where the M40 should have ended but it only got to Uxbridge The other motorways you told us about I knew nothing of. Once again your video has taught me something new, thanks John

[@jonathonbrett-qn1ic]

Absolutely brilliant

[@mdhazeldine]

I remember visiting the Battleship building in 2000 as part of a university design project to come up with ideas for how to reuse the abandoned building in an interesting way. The area has changed dramatically since then. All those buildings around it weren't there back then. It was much more of a landmark as it was one of the tallest buildings in the area. How times change.

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

Excellent. I like where this is going.

[@davidleeming9842]

Brilliant episode

[@londonlore5881]

Outstanding video Jon and this is right up my A / (M) road 🛣️ 👍🏽 I’ve travelled on all of these but love the extra bits of info you’ve given us herein. Looking forward to the rest of the series 💙👍🏽 I did have a laugh at your ‘attack-cat’ being a bit of a NOMD (Not On My Desk) - he wasn’t keen on any filming being done 😂.

[@paulhunter6178]

There really ought to be more parts on maps called "Sticky out bit" - perhaps that's a new series John? You can tour UK and find said features and rename them to Sob's.

[@stephenweston1807]

I rode the A102(M) southern section northbound on my way back home after passing my motorbike (Honda C90) test back in the late 70s. A chance to get it up to full speed!! (about 50mph!)

[@MadBiker-vj5qj]

Those bridges at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="585">9:45</a> are a real hazard spot. They hold a lot of water in the ground now covering them which is continually dripping onto the road, and as it's a dip it does't drain well and seems to freeze a little earlier than surrounding areas in the winter. So..... we've got a blind bend, with ice, and very often a tail-back just round that corner... and people often go into it far too fast as they don't realise it will be frozen up. Most local motorcyclists will tell you horror stories about that bend.

[@MrGadgetgav]

Bonus three chapters in one episode! I like that, so I clicked the button

[@RobSchofield]

Ooh, I do like the sound of this new series - hooked already. Would be good if at some point you could do an overview of the entire original concept as well as examining the remaining pieces of the jigsaw. Great!

[@tayne5009]

That’s a relief, thought you were stuck in Herefordshire.

[@ChrisBrown-px1oy]

"Like" doesn't quite cut it - brilliant. And personal: I remember all of these as motorways and have driven on all of them as A-roads. I'll never know how the twisty partly tunneled section of what's now A12 between Hackney Wick and Old Ford, met motorway standards. When the Westway was built, the A40 London-bound turned south along Wood Lane to Shepherds Bush Green and then east again along its original 1922 route, via Notting Hill Gate, Oxford Street and High Holborn. The fact that Westway fed on to the 18th century New Road through Euston and King's Cross, and a general conservatism that tended to minimise renumbering, were reasons why Westway did not take the A40 number. Even when it eventually did, A40 was sent back as soon as possible to its old route at Marble Arch, by a new mulitplex with A5.

[@__-yw1hb]

oh look a new member of the team :) <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="817">13:37</a>

[@AndreiTupolev]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="435">7:15</a>Paddington Goods Depot, that was

[@sarahkb7]

Any chance of a "Secrets of Portsmouth's Lost Motorways" video too?

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Great video Jon

[@martinhowe1422]

Giving my age away here but In 1971 Hawkwind played a series of free gigs under the Westway at Portobello Green and Acklam Road.......

[@TESTA-CC]

I hope Gilbert is ticking along nicely John 🤙🤙

[@azza0911]

Was expecting Episode 54 of your 1923 Michelin Guide Book Great British Road Journeys but seeing that last week's was put up again yesterday and seen that you done a London Lost Motorways instead today thought I press the fwicked sweet awesome button specifically for that.

[@johnimg]

Elo Jon got a new motor , nope still the old one, never mind, I had a good week and hope you have a good one whatever you get up to !

[@mikeuk666]

Always enjoy your vids 🚗

[@EuropaSman]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="331">5:31</a> Goldfinger! He was the man. The man with midas touch when it came to brutilist architecture. Erno Goldfinger was the architect who designed the building. He also designed Balfron Tower in Tower Hamlets that he also lived in.

[@ParanoimiaUK]

A fun fact/some useless information for you: I used to live in Hackney, and in the Google Maps aerial view at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="567">9:27</a> I can see the flats i used to live in at the bottom left. 😁

[@abarratt8869]

I've always wondered why bits of roads to / from the Blackwall tunnel looked a bit motorway-ish. Now I know!

[@jrisner6535]

Trellick is a work of genius. Functionally perfect

[@VampMiku502]

If im not mistaken at Hackney Wick interchange theres stub of former railway viaduct that spammed over former A102(M)

[@carrolmcdonald8611]

Aww I love the cat, there’s only one road they take…. Their own! 😂

[@sacredsock8031]

John, can I tempt you with some abandoned roads, a dismantled overpass, some abandoned (ish) double digit A road, a couple of unorthodox bridges, plenty of space for drone play, oh and a church that has bits that predate the Norman invasion?

[@hughwattmate9001]

Driving around London is my worst nightmare, the thought of it makes my skin crawl.

[@VictorianDad]

I took part in an anti-road / anti-car protest on the M41 in the 1990s. The motorway was occupied for half a day. Music was played. Food was eaten. Think the protest group was called Reclaim the Streets or some such.

[@chriswalford4161]

Ooooooo! A new series! 🙂

[@vibingwithvinyl]

I love this type of stuff. Iirc Jay Foreman did a video about this subject many years ago.