Scotch Corner

Scotch Corner
Map showing the location of Scotch Corner in northern England
Location
Middleton Tyas, North Yorkshire
Coordinates 54°26′33″N 1°40′08″W / 54.4426°N 1.6690°W / 54.4426; -1.6690
Roads at
junction		 [[Image:Motorway Left.svg|[ |x22px|link=]] A1(M) motorway
A66 – Penrith
A6055 – Knaresborough, Barton
Construction
Type Grade-separated roundabout
Maintained by Highways England

Scotch Corner is an important junction (now a roundabout interchange) of the A1(M) and A66 trunk roads near Richmond in North Yorkshire, England (grid reference NZ214053). One of the best-known junctions in the country – it has been described as "the modern gateway to Cumbria, the North East and Scotland"[1] – it is a primary destination signed from as far away as the M6 motorway. The junction's name is derived from the fact that it is the point of divergence for traffic coming from London, the East Midlands, and further south in Yorkshire and wishing to continue either to Edinburgh and eastern Scotland (along the A1(M)) or to Glasgow and western Scotland (by taking the A66).

Geography

The A1(M) leads north towards North East England and Scotland, and south towards London. The A66 leads north west towards Penrith and the M6 motorway. There are also three other exits from the junction: the A6055 road north and south, with the southbound side leading to the A6108 towards the Yorkshire Dales and Richmond. The third exit is towards Middleton Tyas and Croft-on-Tees and is a minor road which provides access to the services too.

Etymology and history

The Scotch Corner Hotel

The name originated from being the junction where the north–south Roman road known as "Dere Street", which crossed the River Tees at Piercebridge, met the Roman road which went west through Bowes and Brough.[2] It is where travellers to eastern Scotland (now via A1(M) and/or A68) are separated from travellers to western Scotland (now via A66 and M6/ A74(M)/M74).

The Romans were responsible for building the first roads to meet at this point and the site of the original junction is just a few hundred yards away from the modern day intersection. In AD 71 the Romans took control of the North when they defeated the Brigantes, a Northern Celtic tribe at the Battle of Scotch Corner.[1] There was a major Roman settlement at Scotch Corner, with its own mint.[2][3]

The route now called the A66 was once 'the winter road' from Scotch Corner to Glasgow, by way of Carlisle. 'The summer road' runs from Barnard Castle, along Teesdale to Alston, then through Brampton to Gretna in Scotland. Particularly for cattle droving, the shorter route was advantageous when passable. The Summer Road is one of the most spectacular routes in England. The summer road follows what is now the B6278, B6277, and A689.

The location remained significant as a staging post with an inn, The Three Tuns, which subsequently became a roadhouse in the early days of motorised travel.[2] The £8 million Scotch Corner diversion opened in 1971, which created a grade separated junction on the A1.[4]

A £380 million upgrade of the A1 between Leeming Bar and Barton Interchange meant that the road was upgraded to three-lane motorway standard in March 2018.[5]

Facilities

The front entrance of Moto Hospitality, Scotch Corner

Scotch Corner is notable for the large Scotch Corner Hotel established in 1939, built on the site of a mid-16th century inn and now operated by Holiday Inn.[2][6] Almost as soon as it was opened, part of the hotel was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force for convalescing airmen.[4]

In 2011 it underwent a £3 million refurbishment.[7][8] It is also marked by a Moto Hospitality service station built in 1980 with an attached Travelodge motel.[6][9] The Moto offers the usual services such as Costa Coffee, Marks & Spencer, Burger King, WHSmith, an Esso petrol station,[10] and an electric vehicle charging station.[11]

Jethro Tull refer to the Scotch Corner in the title track of their 1976 Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! album.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Richmond and Swaledale History". Yorkshire-england.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lloyd, Chris (12 March 2018). "History of Scotch Corner - once the site of a battle between Romans and Brigantes, 2,000 years ago". The Northern Echo. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Roman treasures found on A1". Highways England, Government of the United Kingdom. 10 April 2017. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017.
  4. 1 2 Lloyd, Chris (16 March 2018). "Life and Times of Scotch Corner Take a New Turn". Darlington & Stockton Times (11–2018). p. 33. ISSN 2516-5348.
  5. ↑ Copeland, Alexa (29 March 2018). "A1(M) in North Yorkshire now fully open - But works not over just yet". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Domesday Reloaded: Scotch Corner Hotel". BBC. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  7. ↑ Amos, Mike (31 January 2012). "Third degree burns". The Northern Echo. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "Holiday Inn, Scotch Corner". Projekt Architects. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018.
  9. ↑ "Domesday Reloaded: Highway Service Station". BBC. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  10. ↑ "Scotch Corner | Motorway Services | Service Areas | Moto - the UKs largest motorway services provider". Moto-way.com. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "Our Electric Highway". Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Jethro Tull - Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die Lyrics". Metro Lyrics.

Location grid


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