SABRE

B/W image taken by Manchester Corporation's official photopgrapher in 1959 showing an old style road sign in Chortlton-cun-Hardy. It shows "ring road" ahead & to the A616, Ring Road left to the A6 Salford, A56 Bury and A62 Oldham, and right to the A34 to Cheadle and A6 to Stockport. A row of shops on the left include a branch of Mac Fisheries. Behind the sign a queue of people wait at a bus stop. It is winter as the trees are bare.

Chorlton-cum-Hardy in 1959 captured by the #Manchester Corporation photographer. A lot of folk waiting for a bus, a branch of Mac Fisheries & a rather splendid pre-Worboys traffic sign. @showmeasign.online @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk

(Pic. Manchester Archives)

#Map extract from Ordnance Survey OS map at the One Inch scale covering part of Gloucestershire and the original Severn Bridge from 1938

We're adding another small set of OS One Inch Fifth Edition #maps from southern England (and a small part of Wales) to SABRE Maps today, this time three maps from 1938. What can you find on them? #MapMonday

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Thorn/Atlas Beta 3 street lighting lantern : Brentwood, Essex, UK : 29 February 2026. I never recall seeing many of these stylish 1960s Atlas Beta 3 Group B style lanterns in real life and to say that they are rare now is an understatement. Yet here is a small installation of them in real life around an office block on Brentwood, Essex. Photo shows a rusting column with a faded "10" mph sign attached and inspection cover missing. It stands by a brick wall with steel gates. In the background a 1960s office block.

Thorn/Atlas Beta 3 street lighting lantern : Brentwood, Essex, UK : 29 February 2026. I never recall seeing many of these stylish 1960s Atlas Beta 3 Group B style lanterns in real life and to say that they are rare now is an understatement. Yet here is a small installation of them in real life around an office block on Brentwood, Essex. A close up showing the rusting steel post/bracket and the lantern with a large white overhanging plastic canopy and underneath a "V" shaped perspex bowl.

Never common lanterns but now, out in the wild, very rare. A small installation of Thorn/Atlas Beta 3 street lighting on private land in Brentwood, Essex. @showmeasign.online @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk

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Approaching Hyde Road from Mount Rd by Belle Vue in 1967 & the Manchester Corproation photographer has made a good job of capturing that rather fine pre-Worboys style road sign. I don't think a single building seen here survives. I think that the prominent structure is the old Gorton Town Hall. There are road works with ramps signs and, on either side of the road, Manchester Corporation Transport bus stops.

Approaching Hyde Road from Mount Rd by Belle Vue in 1967 & the #Manchester Corporation photographer has made a good job of capturing that rather fine pre-Worboys style road sign. I don't think a single building seen here survives. I think that the prominent structure is the old Gorton Town Hall.

Screenshot of the SABRE Maps Sheetfinder, used to identify which maps we have of any specific location. Search term of "Manchester", looking at Quarter Inch and 1:250k Ordnance Survey OS maps.

This #MapMonday, using our Sheetfinder, can you discover just how many Quarter Inch and 1:250k scale #maps we have that include Manchester city centre, or for any other location in Great Britain or Ireland?

(the current answer is 43...)

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This aerial view looks along the line of Elstree Way in the 1950s.

This aerial view looks along the line of Elstree Way in the 1950s. The rectangular structure in the foreground was a water tank. The image also shows the large white bulk of the Studio Cinema.

📷 Elstree and Borehamwood Museum

📍 www.theundergroundmap.com?id=6431

#borehamwood #herts

Zoom meeting - an Introduction to the SABRE #Maps Grid Calibrator. Hands on georeferencing maps using our toolsets.

If you weren't able to attend our recent Zoom session showing people how to georeference #maps using our Online Calibrator, then we've got it recorded and now available on our YouTube channel.

Don't forget to look there for other videos!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhO6...

An absolute joy to talk motorways with @rostaylor.bsky.social - the podcast episode is below, have a listen!

Western Avenue Extension : booklet : Cement & Concrete Association : January 1968 : Section 5 : west from Paddington : sketch by Frank A. Weemys. A booklet produced by the Cement & Concrete Association, who produced similar publications for other scehems, looking at the design and construction of the Western Avenue Extension in London. This elevated highway, constructed between 1967 and 1970 and the road, then known as Westway and the A40(M), spanned some 2.5 miles (4km) between Paddington Green and Shepherds Bush. It was designed as part of the now infamous London Ringways or Motorway Box schemes and it is arguable that the protests regarding the demolition of residential property, and the need to rehouse over 3,000 inhabitants, helped set the scene for the widespread opposition to motorways plan that was later curtailed and cancelled. The bulk of the construction was in the form of elevated concrete viaducts and the booklet goes into a great deal of technical detail regarding this. The scheme was overseen by the newly formed Greater London Council under architect Hubert Bennett FRIBA, the consulting architects being William Holford & Partners. The main contractor was John Laing Construction Ltd. with the Consulting Engineers being Maunsell & Partners. The extent of the viaducts can be seen in the two aerial photogarph montages; one looks east and the other west and the curving gash across the densely populated neighbourhoods can be seen alongside, at the Paddington or eastern end, the proximity to the railway main line at Paddington. The booklet also includes a sketch of the proposals by one of the noted architectural illustrators of the day, Frank A. Weemys. The elevated highway is seen snaking its way across the railway, the canal to lower right.

The optimism of the 1960s - when super highways were the answer. A sketch by architect/illustrator Frank Weemys of the new Westway A40(M) Western Ave extension that sliced through #London & seen here from above Paddington. One of the few parts of the Ringway schemes built.

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As a reminder to everyone, this is happening tonight. We hope that if you're interested that you can make it, and if you can't, we'll hopefully be a little quicker with the recording this time!

One of the series of publicity booklets in the form of pictorial strip maps "Links unde Rechts der Autobhan" - left and right of the motorway - that were issued by BV-Aral AG who were based in Bochum. Undated, they feel to be from c.1955 to c.1960 and this would cover the period that the company was known by that name. The design and layout of the booklets and maps is credited to the Verlag Witzel of Essen and the printing is by Busche of Dortmund. They are in many ways rather charmingly detailed showing a great number of sites and destinations close to the Autobahn. The covers show the open highway as it passes to the north of the Ruhrgebeit, one of Europe's great industrial conurbations and beyond the peaceful rurual landscape the smoking chimneys of industry can be seen on the horizon. The blue and silver tankers of BV-Aral can be seen centre stage! The back cover, continuing the landscape, also asks that you have a 'good trip!'. BV-Aral were formerly the Westdeutsche Benzol-Verkaufsvereinigung formed in 1898 to utilise by-products of the town gas industry and who went on to develop their B.V-Aral, B.V.-Bevaulin and B.V.-Oel ranges of petrol and lubricants. The company, like the UK's National Benzole, used coal by-products as the basis of their products and the most famous "ARAL" was a blend of petroleum and benzine developed in 1924 and named as a portmanteau of ARomata - Alifate. The logo seen here shows the crossed coal miners picks - it was in post WW2 years, in 1952, that the name and logo was simplified to BV-Aral, becoming Aral AG in 1962. The company's distinctive petrol stations and logo remain a feature of the German streetscape although they have been owned by BP in 2002.

One of the series of publicity booklets in the form of pictorial strip maps "Links unde Rechts der Autobhan" - left and right of the motorway - that were issued by BV-Aral AG who were based in Bochum. Undated, they feel to be from c.1955 to c.1960 and this would cover the period that the company was known by that name. The design and layout of the booklets and maps is credited to the Verlag Witzel of Essen and the printing is by Busche of Dortmund. They are in many ways rather charmingly detailed showing a great number of sites and destinations close to the Autobahn. The covers show the open highway as it passes to the north of the Ruhrgebeit, one of Europe's great industrial conurbations and beyond the peaceful rurual landscape the smoking chimneys of industry can be seen on the horizon. The blue and silver tankers of BV-Aral can be seen centre stage! The titling appears to use one of the Weiss Initialen typefaces. BV-Aral were formerly the Westdeutsche Benzol-Verkaufsvereinigung formed in 1898 to utilise by-products of the town gas industry and who went on to develop their B.V-Aral, B.V.-Bevaulin and B.V.-Oel ranges of petrol and lubricants. The company, like the UK's National Benzole, used coal by-products as the basis of their products and the most famous "ARAL" was a blend of petroleum and benzine developed in 1924 and named as a portmanteau of ARomata - Alifate. The logo seen here shows the crossed coal miners picks - it was in post WW2 years, in 1952, that the name and logo was simplified to BV-Aral, becoming Aral AG in 1962. The company's distinctive petrol stations and logo remain a feature of the German streetscape although they have been owned by BP in 2002.

Shades of Kraftwerk : c.1960 BV ARAL AG pictorial map guide to the Autobahn - Links und Rechts der Autobahn - an almost idyllic scene of the highway thro verdant countryside whilst on the horizon stands the industrial powerhouse of the Ruhrgebeit. @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk #germany #1950s

a 1960s b/w view of Suffolk St in Birmingham looking north. To the right a new Revo Prefect street lamp, with its familiar domed top, and spanning left there's a multiplicity of bus stops, period No Waiting signs and two unusual square No Entry signs. A range of Victorian buildings on the right will soon be demolished for the Inner Ring Road tunnel entrances. Baskervill House can be seen in the distance and on the right are stepped canopies of the new 1960s structures.

Suffolk Street in #Birmingham as the pace of change picked up in the 1960s. Much municipal street furniture, inc. a Revo Prefect street lamp along with, in the distance, a much earlier Revo product. And square 'No Entry" signs. @showmeasign.online @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk

Found image

Birmingham's 1850 in Westley Road Sorry about the dodgy quality neg has gone yellow Birmingham's Daimler CVG HOV 850 is at speed in Westley Rd heading towards Acocks Green on a short working to Bromford Lane on the Outer Circle Route...

1950s/60s view of Acocks Green in #Birmingham capturing a fine City Transport bus thundering past a cyclist - & neatly showing the old style "Ring Road" confirmation plates on the adjacent lamp post. @showmeasign.online @sabre-roads.org.uk @roads.org.uk

(Flickr/G Dowling)

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One week today!

An Introduction to SABRE Maps YouTube video by SABRE Maps

We've been asked a few times about whether we recorded the recent Zoom session, "An Introduction to SABRE Maps". We have finally worked out how to get the recording out of Zoom, and onto YouTube, so here it is!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s1L...

A-road Signs - motorway services A guide to the road signs used on A-roads to signpost service stations and other services accessed from A-roads in the UK.

The A4260 (old A43) still has a blue 'Services' sign at Peartree!
Blue was the colour unofficially used by the Department of Transport for a select number of service areas on A-roads, before green signs were authorised in 1982.

1960 b/w photo from the Manchester Archives collection. It shows a large 'pre-Worboys' style road sign with left panel reading "Ring Road, A616 Sheffield A635 Ashton-U-Lyne, A62 Oldham and A664 Rochdale", right panel "A5103 (A560) Altrincham". In the centre is a box reading "Dual Carriageway". To the right - and older design street lamp with a bracket and a mercury style lanter, You can also see a bakery van, doors open and two delivery men, and crossing t he junction in the background a Manchester Corporation double deck bus.

Manchester Princess Road 1960. A 'pre-Worboys' direction sign with the "dual carriageway" panel - as well as a fine mercury lantern street lamp, a bakery van & a #Manchester bus. @showmeasign.online @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk

(Image : Courtesy Manchester Archives)

Extract from Ordnance Survey Fifth Edition #map from 1934 showing the area around St. Austell in Cornwall, now available on SABRE Maps.

The OS One Inch Fifth Edition from the 1930s is a very flawed #map series. It changed standards, got called "muddy", changed layouts and only covered the south of England. Yet it's one of our favourites, so another 12 additional sheets from 1934 have gone live on SABRE Maps today. buff.ly/4MsHl9Z

B/W photo from Manchester Libraries taken in 1964 and showing road traffic signs on the approach to a roundabout in Trafford Park. The main sign is of the pre-Worboys style (Stretford B5211 left, A5081 Urmston stright on and Via Swing Bridge B5211 Eccles) with an 'Anderson' style Motorway M62 ahead bolted on top. In the distance another M62 Anderson style sign. There's light traffic, inc an ERF lorry exiting the roundabout to the right and the forground shows weeds leading to a pavement where one pedestrian stands.

Traffic signs galore at Trafford park, Manchester, in 1964. The now M60 signed in its original incarnation of the M62 Eccles - Stretford Bypass. I bet that bench on the lest gave scenic views. @showmeasign.online @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk

(Image courtesy Manchester Libraries)

#Map extract from SABRE Maps showing official traffic count data, now available across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Clicking on the type labels at the bottom will turn them off and on, and it even remembers your preferences

Thanks to our volunteer development team, the Traffic Counts information on SABRE Maps has been hugely improved with more accurate locations, better graphs and data from Northern Ireland too! You can click on each traffic type to diplay, and see just how busy roads really are. buff.ly/XH6mVqm

Introduction to the SABRE Maps Grid Calibrator, a hands-on session where you get to learn about georeferencing #maps using our toolsets is happening on Zoom, on Wednesday 11 February 2026 at 7.30pm UK and Ireland time.

Following the success of our introductory Zoom talk on SABRE Maps, we'll be holding a second one around our Grid Calibrator tool, showing how we georeference maps, and how you can help! There will be opportunities to ask questions, and click along! buff.ly/TzVhjsT

Ordnance Survey OS map extract from the 2026 OS Miniscale release, showing most of Essex.

After all those maps from 1975, it's #MapMonday and time for the first modern OpenData #map of 2026!

OS Miniscale is smilar to the old Ten Mile or Route Planning maps and therefore great for looking for major changes in GB over time. Can you find the changes from our 2025 layer?

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Clayton By-pass, Congleton : in : Cheshire : the County Handbook : Cheshire County Council : E.J. Burrow & Co. Ltd. : nd [c.1959]. The County Council was responsible, outside of the County Boroughs, for roads and there are photographs of the various road schemes recently carried out. This shows the Clayton bypass in Congleton that helped relieve congestion on the A34 that had previously run through the centre of the town along the crowded Rood Hill and over the narrow Dane Bridge where it met the A54. This is looking north over the new river bridge from the corner of Broadhurst Lane. A broad sweep of open road, with new concrete lamp posts, dips down before rising to the distance. Trees on the left and some semi-detached houses on the right.

Northwich By-pass, Western Section under construction : in : Cheshire : the County Handbook : Cheshire County Council : E.J. Burrow & Co. Ltd. : nd [c.1959]. The County Council was responsible, outside of the County Boroughs, for roads and there are photographs of the various road schemes recently carried out. This photo shows construction work on the western section of the Northwich bypass. This is, I suspect, looking west down the shallow slope of the A556 Chester Road towards Sandiway. A the outlines of a new dual carriageway, with an embankment slope to the right, is seen with, in the mid-distance, construction still underway.

From the 1959 Cheshire County Handbook - the work of the Highways Dept. & two new road schemes; the Clayton by-pass of the A34 in Congleton & the Northwich by-pass of the A556. @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk @showmeasign.online #cheshire #1950s

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A route confirmation sign for the B5305. Sebergham 10 Wigton 19 Skelton (C3010) 5 Caldbeck (B5299) 11 Silloth (B5302) 31

Unexpected C road on a route confirmation sign.

As a reminder, this is happening at 7.30pm this evening for anyone who is interested in the Maps section of our Society.

Original sign for the A580 exit off the M57 as seen from the infamous Kirkby Ski Slope in 1973, image from a BBC Nationwide report.

Same sign today, from Google Maps.

This sign has never made sense the second slip road is ruler straight and hits a roundabout.

An introduction to SABRE Maps, showing the time and data of the Zoom meeting where you get to learn how to use our huge collection of Ordnance Survey OS maps of Great Britain and Ireland.

Want to learn more about SABRE Maps? Not sure which #maps we have available or how to find them? Or what other mapping functions we have? Perhaps you just like maps, history or the railways? Join us for our first-ever Zoom session, Wed 14 Jan 2026 - free at 1930 UK/Ireland time. buff.ly/JxwTeg1

Guide to Appleby and North Westmorland : Appleby Borough Council and North Westmorland Rural District Council : nd [c.1970]. A guide to the rural expanse of the then North Westmorland Rural District Council and Appleby Borough Council, the latter being the county town of Westmorland, and produced by the Joint Publicity and Tourism Committee of both councils. The booklet gives information as to attractions, services and amenities of a sparsely populated area of northern England - the 1969 population estimates were 1,800 for Appleby and 15,800 for the Rural District. Under the 1974 local government reorganisation they would be bundled up into Cumbria as part of Eden District Council; subsequently they now form part of the new Westmorland & Furness Council. The cover to the guide depicts one of the greatest changes to the area in the Twentieth Century; the construction of the M6 motorway as seen here cutting through the Lune Gorge in west of the Rural District as it headed north and up over the notorious Shap Fell towards Carlisle and Scotland. The Committee had gained consent from the Ministry of Transport and Scott, Wilson, Kirkpatrick and Partners to reproduce several illustrations including this cover. It is a fine colour sketch of the planned motorway drawn in 1967 to illustrate the scale of the new road in this challenging landscape. It is by Frank Weemys, architect and illustrator, who was working in the mid-Twentieth Century. He produced the sketches for various major schemes such as the BBC TV Centre in west London. In colour it shows the sparsely used new road snaking its way towards distant moorland with an inclined overbridge cutting midway across the scene. This section of the M6, almost the final link, opened on 23 October 1970 and interestingly, contracts have been let for major repair works to the many bridge structure on this section of the motorway commencing in 2026.

A spendid architects sketch of the M6 at the Lune Gorge by Frank Weemys in 1967 used, with the MOT's consent, on the front cover of the Guide to Appleby & N. Westmorland Councils. The heavily engineered section opened in 1970. @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk @showmeasign.online

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Now, this takes us back a bit. Thanks Chris!