Brutal and honest architecture
A couple of weeks ago, travelling to South West of Scotland, we pulled into the Services. Services are services, nothing new. However, this is not an ordinary motorway service but rather a second-ever station on the motorway in the UK!
The Forton on M6, or the Lancaster Services these days, is famous for its tower. It is known as a Pennine Tower, standing proudly at 20m high. It served as an observation/restaurant area in the 70s and 80s. In fact, it opened its doors in 1965, closed in 1989 and got listed in 2012. I would list it too because structurally, it is a magnificent building.
You can check a video made for the "Dickie Davies Eyes" song by Half Man Half Biscuit. The services are visible at 1:52. Honestly, looks surreal and not at all changed. Well, maybe something has been built up.
Unfortunately, inside the services, you won't be able to go up the tower, but at least you have some images on the walls to see the view from the top. It is crazy how the landscape has changed both nature and traffic over the years. In the image below it shows the 28th August 2018 on the left compared to the 28th August 1968 on the right.
Have you also noticed the surroundings? Because it is Lake District, the area is very hilly, and you can enjoy the view from the bridge too. In my case, I have simply snapped standing in the car park.
Can the tower be classed as a radical architectural structure of those times?
I recon, yes!
The tower was designed by Sir Thomas Bennett. By the number of exposed materials and pure minimalism, I believe it reflects the brutalist architectural style. It was the movement around that time in the UK too. The pure joy of the brutalist style is the "raw canvas", or the exposed materials which allow for the naked structure. My eyes were instantly drawn to the cantilevered top and the rectangular concrete blocks. It is rather impressive from an architectural point of view and a bit puzzling to think how they sit like that without falling on your head.
You can see many buildings in the UK in the brutalist style. I have always thought of this vibe as the '70s. Well, it turns out it began its movement in the '50s and lasted for around 30 years. In theory, these concrete buildings (most of which don't even look great) are history and definitely worth your attention!
The future of the tower is unfortunately uncertain. On the one hand, it is a historical building which would attract visitors. On the other hand, it was difficult to keep the profits in the past. Right now, someone would have to think twice before investing in refurbishing the Pennine tower as it is a risky business. I fear that it would have to come down at some point because the cost of keeping it safe would be too high.
Sources used:
https://motorwayservices.uk/The_Pennine_Tower
https://fortonservices.webs.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutalist_architecture
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I never thought I'd read a post about a service station!! How can you make such a boring place so interesting!!!
hahhaha, I guess it depends on the place. I would never have written about the services, especially not in 500 words, but this building, I was mesmerised, intrigued, and wanted to share!
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Aren't films also made in this building? When I first saw it in your photos, an image from a sci-fi movie immediately popped into my head... Of course, it's only in my head 😄, because I usually associate brutalist architecture with aliens and flying saucers.
I think this place is really perfect for a restaurant. And I hope it will be preserved in the future, even if it will never be used for something like that again.
Great post!
Thank you! ♥
I'm not sure about the movies, I did not find any references, but I see where you get the idea. I feel like the '80 were pushing for something more alien-like in the film industry, and of course, brutalist architecture looked a bit rough and unusual. It is a perfect much and hence association. 😀
I have stopped here a few times on my travels and not paid much attention to it! Nicely captured.
No way! Such an awesome structure slipped your attention? Or perhaps this architectural concept is so mundane that it literally coexists like a norm. Tbh I was the only one looking up with excitement.
Hmm! I was there for food!!!!! you should go urban exploring if you want to see architecture in the raw. You have a good eye.
That's a cool looking building. It reminds me of a tower that you would see at an airport. Too bad that its future is uncertain but it's starting to look a bit old. You're probably right that it would need a lot of work and money to maintain it and keep it safe.
Ah, yeah! I thought it reminds me of something, and you got it.
Although so many new exciting structures are built every year, perhaps we should give way to new and accept that we have to let something go if it is not right.
Some explorers got into that a few years ago. They were chased, but not caught and footage was released of what it looks like now. Not sure how they got in, the door is locked.
Ohhh, that's interesting! Is it on youtube? I would love to see
It got removed I think..
https://www.lep.co.uk/news/transport/video-urban-explorers-reveal-inside-of-m6-tower-with-video-tour-of-abandoned-lancashire-landmark-148557
or maybe not..
Awesome! It looks incredibly big with so many rooms as well, wow!
What a shame it all comes down to money. I'd love to be able to go inside the tower and see the views. I'll make a point of stopping there the next time we're up that way. That's for the information.
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It is always down to money 😔 Like so many historical buildings can't be maintained because of it. And, of course, trusts are not made of never-ending cash, so they can't support every mansion from previous centuries either.
I think I read that this tower is pretty much supported by the locals who care.
Very interesting piece of history. Hopefully it is preserved. The law school on my university was built in the brutalist style. The rest of the campus was gothic. Basically everyone complained about the building for about 30 years then they tore it down and replaced it.
What a shame! You add something uniques and different, and suddenly we oppose it. I get that brutalist style is mundane, but if you skip past the pretty looks, it is all about the engineering and pure sketches. The excitement of technical perfectionism!
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Incredible historical building.
It truly is!
Wow, good design.
Thats Pennine Tower take my attention.
Nice work buddy.
Thank you. It is an attention-grabbing piece of architectural art!
Although the Pennine tower is a regular motorway service establishment, its magnificent Brutalist architecture sealed its fate as an extraordinary symbol of the city. With its imposing exterior, it's simply impossible to miss this luxurious observation platform from a distance. Nevertheless, despite its structural instability due to old age, this remarkable building will forever remain an iconic landmark for the UK and the world to remember!
Hello @rimicane, a warm welcome to the Architecture+Design Community. 😊
So very well said! Hello to you too, and thank you!
Hopefully, someone would fund it, and we can enjoy it for longer. 🙂
Interesting history in architecture, impressive buildings like this it is sad it cannot be maintained for future generations. At first glance I thought it to be a water tower something we grew up with, great piece of history!
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Aww, thank you! It does kinda look like a water tower. Someone here mentioned a tower at the airport, so there are similarities 🙂
Water towers, radio/telephone towers and airport towers similar look, perhaps era where the shape in architecture was statement in achievement.
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How cool to see those old photographs on the walls. It is truly unique. Beautiful!
Absolutely! I was like, wait, what? There is a stark difference. The trees are all grown, the number of cars on the motorway. And of course, the car park was small and awkward and it still is 😁
Yes, super cool when you see things in different “light”
Have an amazing day today @rimicane 👋🏻☀️😁