Do you know where this is?

[Rob Gaskin]

That's got your attention.

This Sunday I'm going to watch the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and if possible I'd like to find the place on the first picture. My Dad is driving this car (from the back with a tiller) and it's 1954. The second picture shows me in it.

So if you know the roads between Hyde Park and Brighton Promenade do you recognise it? Of course it will have changed but I'm hoping someone might be able to help.

 

[Albrecht]

That location looks a good way out of town, and a very distinctive garage forecourt on a curve in the road.

Interest piqued!

 

[Jason McIvor]

That location looks a good way out of town, and a very distinctive garage forecourt on a curve in the road.

Interest piqued!

....fires up Google maps

 

[Rob Gaskin]

....fires up Google maps

Yeh but I need to narrow things down a bit.

It's going to take a long time walking the 'yellow man' to Brighton!

 

[Albrecht]

At least from the area south of Coulsdon in Surrey, the roads on the original 1954 route have been changed quite radically with the building of the M23. In fact, I believe some of the current route includes sections of three-lane M23 (scary). The road south of Pease Pottage returns to A-road status but it is still quite modernised.

I've got a strong feeling that the delightfully bucolic garage forecourt in your photo is in one of the then-rural towns or villages in that area going south after Coulsdon. Somewhere like Handcross, Bolney, Pyecombe maybe...?

I might have a Google Maps 'walk' at lunchtime to see what I can see.

 

[Albrecht]

You could also have a trawl through the feature film Genevieve (1953) for clues:

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Seen the film, Dad loved it.

Thanks Alan.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

This paragraph amazed me, how times have changed and language too.

 

[Ped]

This paragraph amazed me, how times have changed and language too.

An 'unhappy' event that 'dampend our high spirits'! That's how a fatality was described back in the day, very stiff upper lip!

 

[Mr.G]

Hi Rob, what an awesome photo.

There is a facebook group that i am a member of called :

"British roadscene 1955-1995"​

May be worth posting it there, if you'd like me to do it for you let me know.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Just to 'round off' this Thread we had a fantastic time seeing these wonderful cars and amazingly veteran cycles!

The weather was atrocious which we had planned for (umbrellas, waterproofs, spare shoes etc) however it must have been a lot worse for the participants in their open cars.

Respect to all of them for keeping these wonderful vehicles running and for braving the elements. The Penny Farthing riders were incredible - if they rode 60 miles they were super-human!