Roadside Rests
Rees Jeffreys Road Fund has provided over 70 Roadside Rests across the UK since the 1950s.
The Fund’s Trust Deed has as one of the objects to “promote schemes for the provision of roadside parks and open spaces designed to enhance the beauty and attractiveness of the highways”.
As a result, from its early days the Fund supported schemes to create “Roadside Rests” in an era before Motorway Service Stations. Over a period from 1950 to the early part of this century, over 70 such schemes were completed. Although the Trustees no longer see it as their role to encourage new schemes, it does wish to maintain the tradition and history of these facilities.
The information on the locations can be rather vague, and we are keen to improve the details we hold.
The Roadside Rests often link access for cycling, walking and other forms of active travel, for example No. 32 providing access to the Blaenavon world heritage site; No. 36 provides access to Sugar Loaf Mountain; and No. 38 provide a base for walking, cycling and a range of outdoor activities on the North York Moors.
You can find out more about the Fund’s search for Roadside Rests by listening to this podcast of Rees Jeffreys Road Fund past chairman David Tarrant talking to Paul Hutton of Highways News. past
Can you help identify Rees Jeffreys Roadside Rests?
The Fund’s records of the location and condition of Rees Jeffreys Roadside Rests is rather limited. The Trustees are keen to develop a better, more accurate picture. For this we need the public’s help.
Maybe you live near a Roadside Rest or you may come across one when you are travelling around the UK. You might come across a Roadside Rest whilst you are out walking or you may simply enjoy helping us with this challenge and see how many on our list you can visit.
Please email us with as much information as possible including the ///what3words location, the general condition of the site and whether there is a plaque and any photographs of the Roadside Rest. You can send us information via e-mail.
Rees Jeffreys Road Fund is extremely grateful to the members of the public who have sent in photos, information and stories about Roadside Rests across the UK, much of which is included below.