Roadside Rests

The Rees Jeffreys Road Fund has provided over 70 Roadside Rests across the UK since the 1950’s.

Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Roadside Rest: Duncton Hill

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 current list of sites is attached here: RJRF Roadside Rests. The information on the locations is often rather vague, and we are keen to improve the details we hold.

You can find out more about the Fund’s search for Roadside Rests by listening to this podcast of Rees Jeffreys Road Fund chairman David Tarrant talking to Paul Hutton of Highways News.

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.

Can you help us in mapping the 70 plus Roadside Rests created by the Fund since the early 1950s? 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 complete the below form with as much information as you have; if you happen to have taken any photographs of the Roadside Rest, please send them to us via e-mail.

Name
Email
Detailed information of the Roadside Rest you’ve located.
Please include the following, where possible:
– whether there is still a Roadside Rest at the location
– an accurate description of the location (is the correct road noted)
– the Post Code, GPS or ///what3words coordinates if available
– it’s current condition (is it tidy/well maintained, or in a poor condition/overgrown)
Is there parking available at the Roadside Rest?



Is a Rees Jeffreys plaque visible?



When did you come across the Roadside Rest?
Which A or B road is the Roadside Rest accessible from?
Are you happy for us to publish your entry on our website?


The form has been submitted successfully!
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You can find examples of the information we are looking for below.

Visit Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Roadside Rests

A285 South of Duncton, West Sussex (No. 52) created in 1968.
A217 Reigate Hill, Surrey created in1958 (No. 50).
No. 21 Old Winchester Hill off the A32 in Hayden Lane, created in 1958. (Courtesy of N Silcox.)
Winter Hill, Maidenhead (No. 55) created in 1979. (Credit Ginny Clarke)
B2139 West of Houghton (No. 53), West Sussex created in 1991.
B2042 Ide Hill, Kent (No. 29) created in 1960, with Trustee Andy Graham.
A3055 Nansen Hill, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight (No. 27), created in 1960. PO38 1PT. Grid Ref SZ 576 783 (Courtesy of Ken Fry)
A358 Lydeard Hill, Somerset, off the A358. No. 48 created in 1966. (Credit Ginny Clarke)
B3051 at White Hill between Overton and Kingsclere (No. 21), Hampshire created in 1967.
Black Swan Oakham (No. 73), A3 southbound turn off at Wisley created in 2005.
A3055 Gore Quarry (No. 25), Blackgang, Isle of Wight, created in 1960. PO38 2JB. Grid Ref SZ 491 767. (Courtesy of Ken Fry).
A3055 Leeson Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight (No. 26) created in 1970. PO38 1QD. Grid Ref SZ 580 789. (Courtesy of Ken Fry)