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Shap Fell
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In the days before the M6, drivers heading to Scotland were forced to negotiate the treacherous climes of the A6 over Shap Fell where they could experience all types of weather. They nicknamed the area "The Jungle", and the infamous Jungle Cafe was founded there in the 1930s.
To commemorate these epic journeys a monument was erected at the highest point of the route of the A6 over the fell.
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Visit the British Commercial Vehicles Museum website.
This route was long-feared by lorry drivers passing between England and Scotland (this was of course the principal route to Scotland from the western half of England until 1971 when the M6 finally bypassed it), because of the devilishly long climb (and descent when coming home). Many vehicles didn't make it many vehicles were wrecked on this route (or in the valley below!), particularly during winter. There are a number of viscious bends (many of which were improved over the years), and this was (and is) a legendary piece of road to many. The story is now told on video which can be ordered though Andersons Newsagents in the village.
I've sat in me cabin and broiled in the sun,
Been snowed up on Shap on the Manchester run,
I've crawled through the fog with me 22 ton
Of fish that was stinking like blazes.
From London to Glasgow to the Newcastle quay,
From Liverpool, Preston and Bristol city,
The Polones on the road give the thumbs sign to me
For I'm champion at keeping 'em rolling.
The A6 runs from today from Luton in the south, however in times past it ran from London going northwest to eventually end in Carlisle. You can read more about the A6 by visiting The A6 and M6 Website
I'm having difficulty preparing a list of the transport cafes between London and the North during 1950's 1960's.
Any help would be appreciated.
John Baker.
There is a lot of people who say they have fond memories of shap in the pre motorway days, but when I think back to an hour in the old double buses cafe dreading the thoughtof the decent in winter, I thank god for the m 6 motorway. Time provides it's own rose tinted specticles! ! ! geoff
Looking for any old pictures or old photo's showing the jungle cafe
My Great Great Great Grandfather, Robert Reid, was appointed Head Road Surveyor for the Dalkeith District in Scotland in 1826, on the recommendation of John Loudon McAdam. The Minute Book for the Dalkeith District, at the time he took up the position, reads in part "Robert Reid was appointed, who had lately superintended making a new road from Penrith to Shap"
Robert subsequently moved to Kendal in mid 1837 and became Superintendent Surveyor of the Heron Syke Trust, responsible for the road from Kendal to Penrith via Shap until his death in 1844.
I shall really have to make the effort now to visit your part of the world.
My family used to travel from Bristol to Aberdeen in the 50s and 60s and always made a point of stopping at The Jungle Cafe, is it still there? I will be coming to Keswick this summer (my daughter is appearing at The Theatre on the Lake) and would like to make a pilgrimage.
Hi,
Unfortunately the Jungle Cafe is long gone - the site is now home to Kendal Caravans.
The Jungle Cafe building is still there, largely unaltered. It is now the offices of Kendal Caravans.
I first ceossed Shap Fell in December 1949, returning home on my motor bike to West London after 6 months engineering training in Glasgow. I am writing my memoirs and I can still remembour that long frightning decent. A 60 year old memory.
I returned 18 months later. Going up put a strain on the old bike but was not nearly so frightning.
David.
I remember family trips from Musselburgh to Lytham in the 1950s and the tension when crossing Shap. Nobody was allowed to speak