In 1950 the Automobile Association (A.A.) published a handbook for drivers which included maps and a gazetteer of the towns and villages of England and Wales (Scotland had its own association). As post-war paper shortages eased, a new expanded edition was published in 1958 which included illustrations of the sites a motorist might expect to see as they travelled sedately along the roads of Britain (as the maps make clear the motorway network was then at a very early stage of development). Alongside the churches, monuments, castles, historic pubs, chalk figures and gibbets there are more than thirty follies for the driver to spot along his way.
By the time the Flâneuse’s 1961 copy of The Illustrated Road Book to England and Wales (a battered family heirloom) was published, more than 450,000 copies had been supplied to A.A. members, along with the distinctive yellow badge to display on the car.
Whilst the atlas and guide contains everything the driver needs to know about motoring, mileages and market days, it doesn’t give any clues as to who compiled the comprehensive gazetteer, which ranges from Abberton to Zennor, so the Flâneuse is unable to give credit.
The illustrators too remain anonymous, although we do know how the images were sourced. For four years A.A. members of staff photographed anything of interest they saw, and these images were handed to the artists. As the introduction explains, using sketches allowed ‘some of the more obtrusive features of modern life’ to be omitted – so the reader wouldn’t be offended by a TV aerial or an ugly modern streetlight.
The author of the introduction struck a melancholy note when they mused that some of the landmarks illustrated might have disappeared by the time a new edition was published. Local improvements, they wrote, ‘seem so frequently to obliterate the picturesque.’
The Flâneuse is pleased to report that of the many follies featured in the guide almost all survive, including the small selection pictured above.
There have only been two major casualties – an eye-catching toll-house in Berkshire (above) and the Westwick Arch in Norfolk, described as ‘formerly the main entrance to the Westwick Estate’.
As this has been a rather monochrome post, here is an example of the A.A.’s very own contribution to landscape ornament – the black and vibrant yellow phone boxes that could once be found across Britain. All are now redundant, and only a handful survive in their original locations, brightening the roadside. This one is in Mere in Cheshire.
As ever, the Flâneuse found herself wandering off subject into the fascinating history of the A.A. As the 1961 edition of the Road Book was published, it was announced that members would soon miss out on the famous salute from a passing A.A. patrolman. In that year the practice was discontinued as dangerous, although pedestrian patrolmen were still permitted to greet members in this way. There’s a great potted history of the A.A. here.
The Flâneuse salutes her readers and wishes them a safe journey if they are travelling this weekend. Your thoughts are always welcome, please scroll down to the comments box to get in touch.
Nic Orchard says:
A splendid heirloom! Alas, I come from a RAC family…
There’s a parallel with the Shell posters, but they at least were not produced by anonymous artists.
Editor says:
Thanks Nic. The handbook spent many years on the parcel shelf of family cars, but now enjoys a well-earned retirement on my bookcase. I must find out if the R.A.C. published something similar…
Tony Cleaver says:
Fascinating as ever, thank you
Editor says:
Good morning Tony. Many thanks for the kind comment and sending best wishes.
Gand says:
After last week’s dam fine read, now followed up with a AA* muse from the days when the Esso sign did mean happy motoring, what delights for a Saturday morning you bring.
Editor says:
Good morning Gand, and good to find you in fine punning form. Happy days indeed – my favourite motoring memory as a very small child is putting ‘a tiger in the tank’.
Simon Scott says:
Reminds me of a fascinating volume I have on my shelves titled “British Castles Follies & Monuments” (no commas!) produced by National Benzole Books” who I think used to trade as Cleveland petrol stations. So another guide with motoring connections. Undated but I guess c1970. Edited by Sir Hugh Casson, writing by E M Hatt with research, design and illustration by Paul Sharp. And the illustrations are wonderful. Only shame is that the original binding was poor which means you cannot open the book fully! Always wondered who messrs Hatt and Sharp were…
Editor says:
Hello Simon. Shell also produced some interesting guides for motorists – it’s a fascinating subject. Here’s the answer to your question about Hatt and Sharp https://thefollyflaneuse.com/follies-the-pleasures-of-the-journey/
Nick Kingsley says:
I can just remember the Hungerford toll house from early day trips with my parents. I looked for it in the 1970s and remember being puzzled that I couldn’t find it. At the time I thought I must have misremembered where it was, but all is now explained!
Editor says:
Hello Nick. The toll house must have been a lovely sight along the road. I thought at first it must have been lost to road-widening, but it seems it was just neglected. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Julia Abel Smith says:
Sitting in a queue on the ever-congested M25, this is a lovely reminder of gentler motoring times. Just coming up to A3 interchange so I will be cheered by a glimpse of the tower at Painshill.
Editor says:
Good afternoon Julia. I hope you have reached your destination annd enjoyed that glimpse of the tower.
TOM GARDNER says:
TOM (NYC)
ALAS, I’M ALMOST ENVIOUS OF YOUR – ‘TREASURE HOUSE’ OF ‘MATERIAL’ -FROM WHICH YOU OFFER THESE … 10 ON 10 ARTICLES.
MY ONLY COUNTER BEING, MY … EAST COAST (USA) ‘SETTINGS’, WHEN I DROVE
A 1961, ROLLS ROYCE LIMO, FROM: FLORIDA (BOCA RATON), TO NYC. FOR A MOST WONDERFUL WOMAN. AS IT TURNED OUT, I HAD TO USE RT. 301 (THROUGH COUNTLESS SMALL TOWNS) AS OUR MAJOR … ‘I – 95’ HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED.
IT WAS ON THAT TRIP (c. 1967), THAT, WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE … ‘GONE WITH THE WIND’ VISUALS, CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. SADLY, MOST WERE IN POOR CONDITION.
AS IT HAPPENS, POST OUR CIVIL WAR, OUR ‘LANDED GENTRY, NO LONGER BUILT SUCH STRUCTURES; WE HAD TO AWAIT THE ‘ASTOR’ 400 – TO START AGAIN.
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
TOM (THE ONCE UPON A TIME BUTLER)
Editor says:
Thanks Tom! Sadly I don’t have a Rolls Royce to get me from folly to folly.
John Preston says:
I’ve been unable to get your photos to open for the last three weeks – this is on MS Edge and on Firefox – a real shame as your pictures and the archive ones are a real part of the posts.
Editor says:
Hello John. I am afraid to say I am baffled. I am not aware of any issues. I hope it resolves itself soon.
Iain KS Gray says:
The mention of Hugh Casson, a former Patron of The Folly Fellowship, reminded me of a good story about Hugh when he was a young man walking along a street with a companion. Suddenly a short distance ahead a man collapsed on the pavement. Hugh’s friend ran to assist what had been an epileptic fit and called back to Hugh to ask if he had something hard to bite on, a pencil maybe. Hugh patted all his pockets, pulled out a pencil and said “Would an HB do?”.
Editor says:
Hello Iain. Thanks for sharing this story about Hugh Casson. I have all of the volumes he edited for National Benzole on my shelves, but of course the one on follies is my favourite.
Colin Addy says:
Hi
Thanks for drawing our attention to this wonderful book. I was reminded of how my father would use his batted copy of the AA Illustrated Road Book Of England & Wales to plan Sunday afternoon family drives out and about in Norfolk and Suffolk in the 1960’s; so much so that it prompted me to see if it was possible to get a copy! Which I now have! At about £15-£20 from any number of second-hand book traders it is an amazing buy. Packed with suggested routes for leisurely drives, notes about most places of interest en route and filled with wonderful b&w drawings illustrating follies and other points and places of interest. My copy is the 1961 (2nd Post-War edition) and I would highly recommend it. Who needs a Sat Nav and Google Maps when you can find your way with this book! And it makes Mr Portillo’s Bradshaw’s Guide look positively dull by comparison! Thanks and Here’s to Jolly Adventures!
Editor says:
Hello Colin. I’m so pleased you now have a copy. I wish you much happy planning and many exciting journeys.