I-Spy AA Village Signs

[NewcastleFalcon]

Jim spotted this when out and about



Apparently out of 30,000 original AA Village Signs, only 65 exist in situ.

cvphm.org.uk/AAVillageSigns

From 1906 to approximately 1932,The Automobile Association erected nearly 30000 signs in villages and towns across Great Britain. Most were removed during the war when a Nazi invasion seemed highly likely. At the end of World War II, only 600 or so were left and today there are around 65 still in situ around the country. Many more have survived in museums and private collections.

So if you discover one, take a pic of it and post it up.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

...and according to the CVPHM website......which is the Colne Valley Postal History Museum

This is an example of one that is in situ



.. and with the help of google streetview I can confirm that as of 2012 it was still in situ.

So if you are ever in the vicinity of Marldon, and find yourself in "Love Lane" having a bite to eat or a refreshing pint at the Church House Inn, have a peek to the side and take an interesting original photo of the Sign and post it up



Regards Neil

PS just as a geeky aside the Colne Valley Postal History Museum won the cabin/summerhouse category in "Shed of the Year 2012"

[NewcastleFalcon]

....and if you are in Nottinghamshire and fancy a pint at the Unicorn's Head (can't be too many of those) look out for Langar's AA Village sign on the side of the Pub.



regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Of course there may be some reproductions going about. For £399 you can get a vitreous enamel "AA Village Sign" custom made to include any town or village you decide to input, together with that ever present (apart from original Scottish AA Village signs it seems) ...."distance to London".



Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Excellent! let the spotting commence

I'd not be surprised to find some hiding in preserved period railway stations around the country...

[NewcastleFalcon]

Well "The French may have a word for it" but the Off-Topic Chat Lounge usually has has a thread for it

Random Link today....AA Box spotted in someone's garden in Sleaford Lincolnshire by MoMag, led to the revelation that in the Toft Country House Hotel & Golf Club, Toft, Bourne, Lincs PE10 0JT we have this....

The Toft Country House Hotel & Golf Club, Toft, Bourne, Lincs PE10 0JT

This bit of Blurb about the Witham on the Hill equivalent of the "Toft" Sign comes from this document
the Vicar Rev. Cooley mentions (1932) that
“the Automobile Association has provided two round discs at either end of Witham-on-the-Hill, with the name of the village, distance from Bourne, Stamford and London”
All local road signs were removed and hidden at the start of the Second World War,”when the danger of invasion by the enemy was real and menacing” ,but they were put back upin June 1943.

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Ahh! You've already got mine Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

This is, unless you know different, the most comprehensive list of AA Village Signs in Roadside locations in the United Kingdom. So...oo many things you can do with it! Is there one near you

Here's the challenge . Go and take a photo of your bike/dog/car next to one and post it up....hours of pointless endless fun . Roughly 70 on the list.

Cumbria/Lancs

Spoiler: show

Nateby
Great Ormside
Roadhead
Low Lorton
Caldbeck
Hutton Roof
Troutbeck
Melmerby Street View Location
Inglewhite

Glos/Hereford/Worcs

Spoiler: show

Hawkesbury Upton,Cromhall,Newent,Hillesley,Collington,Woonton,Almeley,Pembridge,Bredon,Clifton on Teme

Norfolk/Suffolk/Notts/Linc/Leic

Spoiler: show

Itteringham,Kersey,Hartest,Sewstern,Thoresway,Northorp,Langar,Tythby

South (Berks,Northants,Herts/Dorset/Hants/Oxon)

Spoiler: show

Fringford , Winterbourne ,Tarrant Gunville , Cheddington ,Tichborne Down , Itchen Stoke , Anstey , Kings Cliffe

South West (Devon/Corn/Somer/Wilts)

Spoiler: show

Megavissey,Mylor Bridge,St Mawes,St Breward,Marldon,Wiggarton,Wearne,Halse,Staple Fitzpaine,Lydeard St Lawrence,Upton,Clapton,Ramsbury,Luckington,Brixton Deverill

Wales

Spoiler: show

Bosherston,Llanddewi Brefi,Capel Dewi,Y Ferwig,GrosMont,Warren,Cresswell Quay,Hundleton,West Williamston,

Yorkshire

Spoiler: show

Seaton,North Dalton,East Harsley,Langton,Broughton,Aldborough

North-West England/Scotland/Ireland

Spoiler: show

Lower Whitley and Norley (Cheshire);Patrickswell,Duncormack and Instiogue (Ireland); Arnprior (Stirling Scotland)

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Trip to Cumbria today, Very much an AA Village Signs Hotspot. So here are my original photo's

First up Caldbeck a pictureque little village with a crystal clear stream, rustic stone bridges, nice cafes for coffee and cake, and local arts and crafts. A village shop and garage. Could have done with a slightly more ancient set of pumps for perfection but not bad.

Caldbeck Tithe Barn and AA Village Sign

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Next up Great Ormside

The sign is on the side of a farm building. Not too many facilities in the village, but nearby is a nice ford and waterfall.

N Falcon 14/05/2018

geograph stamped image

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Next Nateby just a couple of miles out of Kirby Stephen on the Pub Wall just opposite the garage

N Falcon 14/05/2018

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

..and rounding of the day's activity

Melmerby

The present owner of the property told me the sign came with the house. It's an original not a reproduction so I hope they preserve it as a roadside feature as originally intended rather than take it down and sell it on e-bay I did mention this to her (tactfully of course )

N Falcon 14/05/2018

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Three from a nice drive out around North Yorkshire

First up Great Broughton a couple of miles out of Stokesley on the road to Helmsley

Great Broughton N.Yorks

next the beautiful little village of Langton just south of Malton N Yorks

Langton N Yorks

and Aldborough nr Boroughbridge North Yorks. Chatted with the owner of "Aldborough Dairy" who had found the sign in their attic, and it fitted exactly the original location on the side of the old dairy where it is now.

Aldborough nr Boroughbridge N.Yorks

Regards Neil

[momag46]

Just noticed the ‘Toft’ AA sign post. I live at Bourne so just up the road from Toft.
The sign was on the side of a house in the village that had been the Butchers Arms pub, I didn’t know it had been moved to the hotel (that had been a private house until the early eighties).

Maurice

[NewcastleFalcon]

Bludgeoning way off topic.......I am sure Richmond would not want itself described as a mere "village" and the sign strictly speaking is not the usual record of distances to other places and the ubiqitous reference as to how far the place is from London.

But 50 points at least for an unusual spot!

Richmond AA Sign

In Situ Reeth Road Richmond

Regards Neil