Great British Road Journeys - Essex - Harlow to Basildon Ep.5
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- #driving #infrastructure #cars #roadtrip #essex
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This week we move on from Suffolk, there wasn't much going on anyway... and in this episode.. .well, where to start, it's got everything.... motorway stuff, road stuff, bunker stuff, car stuff, world record holding churches and plenty more, it's a busy episode so strap in! Or on. I'm not sure.
Using a copy of the 1923 Michelin Guide, I'll be travelling the country to see what remains and what's changed since it's publication. The guide offers suggestions on thing to see and where to stay all with the goal of getting you out there and exploring in your motor vehicle.
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"The Harlow we all know and tolerate..." It's quips like these that keeps me coming back here.
I use this channel to take in 'Vitamin UK' - an essential compound for British people who live 'abroad', composed of subtle grumbling, irony and sarcasm. Thank you for your service 🙏
I've been experiencing symptoms of a heavy Vitamin UK deficiency - chiefly homesickness and begrudged adjustment - so here I am. Nice term 💕 🇬🇧
@@Ashystar067 Have a look at the politics channels, you'll soon be cured of your deficiency.
@@Ashystar067 It also helps to have a reliable source of cider and cheese & onion pasties... ☺
I don't always go to John for my dose of 'Vitamin UK' (Jago Hazzard seems to hit the spot much better), but when I do it's very interesting.
Love the concept of a vitamin uk however living on the doorstep of nuneaton means unless its deep fried , placed into a paper bag and served to ford focus with a space saver fitted through a window its not going to be popular around here .
I remain unconvinced that any truly great journey could end in Basildon, but thank you very much for bringing the possibility to my attention. Have a great week, Jon!
You could always pop round to Beefy's house for a cuppa and a quick rave!
Many a good night has been had in Bas Vegas. 🤔
From one sh1thole to another...
I work in Basildon and that's a far as it goes lol. It pays my mortgage so my road journey there every day does make Basildon good for at least something. Trying to think what else... 🤣
If you pop just down the road you can visit fobbing where the peasants revolt started. Also, you've got watt Tyler country park in pitsea where the peasants gathered.
0:29
'Only Joking, he's not gonna turn up' ....
Now look what you've done, I've blurted coffee across my keyboard again ...!
JOHN - THAT GREEN RS MEXICO USED TO BE MINE!! My eyes nearly popped out of my head when i spotted it. 😃
Prove it
@@samholdsworth420Do one.
@@stevekelly5166 nou
Was it stolen at some point…?
link some photos of it here
"It's said Harlow has some of the most extensive cycleways in the country - but I don't care". That made me LOL
Brilliant Statement - indeed, who cares about cycling???
What like this one?? wcc.crankfoot.xyz/facility-of-the-month/September2007.htm
Yes, that was Harlow!!
@@RedKnight-fn6jrif you drive you should, it means they’re much less likely to be in front of you on the road
@@a1white I'm mostly driving on motorways, so no cyclists to worry about! The more motorways, the better!
As a resident of Harlow I feel the the derogatory way that you spoke of my birth place and the people of the greater area of Essex to be truly spot on , keep up the good work,
hehehe :D Stereotypes are fun, thanks for watching
That wooden church is the building equivalent of Trigger’s broom.
Ahhh, North Weald.
Back in the day when I was a teenager, on very rainy night, my girlfriend and I were...enjoying the night air...so to speak, in the front of my MK1 transit van, which, handily, had a full width bench front seat, it also had sliding doors which leaked horribly.
As we were engrossed in stuff, my girlfriend noticed a torch light reflecting in the wing mirror, we were parked off the road in a farm track.
As the light got closer we gathered ourselves together, just in time for the lamp to shine in through the drivers door window.
It was a very wet, very pissed off police constable.
I slid my door open with a cheerful, "Evening constable", he shone his torch about the cab and at my girlfriend.
He asked, in a very bored voice, "What are you two doing here?", I started to mumble a reply when he then said, "I know what you're doing here, but whyy...are you doing it here ?", I again mumbled a poor excuse about nice countryside and views..
He simply said, "Not in my patrol area, zip up your pants, and you, (referring to my girlfriend who by now had gone very red), straighten you clothes and both of you F~~k off"
He splooshed his way back to his Panda car and drove off.
I doubt he used the word 'pants'.
and as the total gentleman that you are you have not mentioned her name, well done..
@@downundarob at a guess Sharon? Maybe Tracy?
So what was you doing ? 😂
@@Dan23_7 His partner was a seamstress & he was showing her some of the repair work that he needed doing on his trousers. The constable, no doubt wearing old and crusty police uniform, was likely rather peeved off he was getting free tailoring and clothing advice from someone specialised in the field.
Her clothing was about the place a bit as she was showing this fine gentleman the work she'd carried out on her clothes.
As a Southend resident, I’m very satisfied with the time of day you didn’t give it 😂
The only man who can make the arse end of the UK truly interesting , that is a special talent indeed 😁👍
😂 can't wait til he goes to Millom
Too right, it's strangle adicitive with Jon's sarcastic humour.
The original Ford EV looked wicked, sweet, awesome.
Auto Shenanigans, rapidly becoming the 21st century's version of Pevsner! Awesome.
Hilarious! John has the sarcasm dial turned up to nuke in this video! With comments like, "the Harlow we know today and tolerate....", and "after the small disagreement of 1939 to 1945...." Wicked good video, John!
A vintage episode! Brilliantly sardonic and sarcastic today.
I visited one of the Nuclear bunkers before it was decommissioned.
100% agree about small family cars rather than SUV as EV.
So that means you were a secret agent perhaps 002 or something?🙂
..
Well If the bunker wasn't decommissioned when you visited it must have been active....?
There’s one near Preston, at a place called Goosnargh.
@@Dan23_7no way. I go past there quite often. Is it accessible to nosy little gits?😂 Looks like it's on the main road as well. Not quite as glamorous, but I live on an abandoned ww2 oil depot. It's a housing dev, not just me and my pikey mates
@@Dan23_7 There's another near me here in Cheshire called Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker (clearly signposted to maintain its secrecy). Not far from Nantwich. Twenty years it was £3.30 to visit. I went again about five years ago and it had increased to over £15. I laughed in their faces of course and walked away.
@@pigeonpoo1823 Yes you can see through the fence. It’s on Whittingham lane.
"the stunning Harlow" 😂😂😂
"My name is Garbo.The T is silent as is the T in Harlow." sigh...One of my favourite put down lines..Greta Garbo to Jean Harlow..
Tolerate lol
My husband tells me of a job interview that he had in Basildon about 30 years ago. Being a northerner and having all sort of negative ideas about Basildon and it's people, he wasn't too keen on going there. However, once there, he said he found the people some of the friendliest and nicest people he could want to meet. He still regrets not getting the job!
I didn’t expect to see my house on TH-cam today, but I did!
8:59 - I can tell you exactly why we miss Little Chef, John... it's because the Olympic Breakfasts were undeniably fucking awesome! I've lived in The Colonies for over 20 years, but I still lovingly recall hoeing into one of those proper full English extravaganzas... Man, I really miss Little Chef...❤...😂👍🇦🇺
That SECRET NUCLEAR BUNKER is one of my most favorite things ever.
I commuted from Stansted to Brentwood. Once leaving Chipping Ongar the bottom water hose detached from my car and I had to pull into the bunker entrance. The AA call centre didn’t believe me when I said I was located at the entrance of the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker 😂. The on road mechanic did.
Thanks for covering home in such a sensitive and engaging way John....
The best thing out of Basildon is Depeche Mode.
Terry Marsh 👊
I was gonna say this!
Beat me to it...😭
Err second best. Yahoo were better!
I think you'll find the best thing in Basildon is the way out.
@@david_harveyWas that the band after Yazoo folded………..🤪
10:15 Loving the reference to the ST220 for obvious reasons 😁
I fear I've missed something here...
Living in Harlow for the past 10 years, you soon realize that the local council love cycle lanes and spend a small fortune on them, thing is, they are barely ever used but that does not stop them building more of them.
Also, Kelvendon Hatch bunker was going to be used by Thatcher to hide away had the coal miners strike got worse.
I lived in Harlow for 2.5 years: 2.5 years in dank greyness, and finally escaped.
You: 10 years? How have you managed to not gnaw your own foot off?
@@AnotherPointOfView944 For most of it I was working nights so thankfully never got to experience the utterly grey skyline....now I work during the day and the bleak,dirty greyness might have something to do with my increasing booze intake.
I have to admit, my first instinct was the Epping Ongar Railway sign.
Motorists should be the biggest proponents for proper, viable, segregated foot paths and cycle ways (along with affordable and usable public transport) - many, many people would love a viable alternative to car use, and if they had it, there would be less traffic on the roads, so people that do need to use cars and vans etc. would have a better time doing so... it's not really that complicated.
I'm all for well-designed and (crucially) well-maintained segregated footpaths and cycleways. But how much of our infrastructure could actually be said to fulfil those criteria? A bit of green paint and some blocks for you to trip over ain't it. NCN Route 75 runs past my house but bits of it are in abysmal condition these days, especially the section south of Blackridge railway station which is effectively abandoned.
@@Gordanovich02 that's my point though, paint isn't infrastructure!
We need to do what people like the Dutch did, and completely redesign our roads! We can do it for round abouts and motorways, so we can do it for active travel and public transport.
All that's required is some political will, and the discipline to spend tax money appropriately, rather than funnelling it in to their mates pockets through dodgy contracts etc...
I think that if a cycleway has been provided, cyclists should be made to use them by law. Why should tax paying motorists have to share the road with doddering muppets on bikes if they have their own lanes?
@@johnbuyers8095 Absolutely not. The roads are for all users, plus the taxes associated with motoring don't even come close to covering the costs of road building and repairs - the majority of that is paid through council tax and general taxation that is born by everybody, whether they drive a car or not.
Description of Essex was spot on 😂
Fun fact the vast majority of New Holland tractors are assembled in Basildon with New Holland veing a company that used to be run by Ford which is probably why the assembly plant is in a similar area to the Ford site.
I was left thinking "What?! No tractor plant? Also think he drove right past the old Ford offices in Warley too - if you know, you know!
Hi Jon I love your Auto Shenanigans podcasts this latest series is fab. Thanks
7:37-8:12 The County Lunatic Asylum has always been housing. You just needed to be crazy to live there.
One of its famous residents is russell brands mum, and occasionally he himself. Always thought that was very apt for both of them!!
Soz Jon but Canvey never had an oil refinery it got stopped from being built on safety grounds. It did however havd somethjnv famous about the part built refinery, Fred Dibnar was hired by Safeway Supermarkets to blow up the chimney, which on his first attempt failed!
Aso did you not notice the mire interesting road sign error in Ongar? Above secret nuclear bunker it says Industrail Estate instead of Industrial Estate!
A bit like the Nicholas Valeting Centre between the A128 and Dunton junctions on the A127, where it reads Nicholas Valentine Centre!😂
"He's not going to turn up." 🤣🤣
You have just literally done my work commute! From Basildon to Harlow and vice versa! Thank you sir for making it infinitely less dull.
He is a fact I was told years ago, no idea if it’s true. The bridge at the bottom of Ongar high street was built slightly wider to accommodate the crossing of communication cables for the secret nuclear bunker over the river.
Kelvedon Hatch is my favourite place in the world! Fascinating place!
Congrats on the MOT pass for the Saab
Like Iggy Pop sang in The Passenger:
I see the stars come out tonight
Yeah they're bright in the Harlow sky
Ah Harlow New Town, of which Genesis reference in the song "Get Em Out By Friday". Also the road in the middle of the roundabout at Junction 7 of the M11, was for many years a Police / Council Weighbridge. For many years upon entering Harlow, you would be met with a green sign stating how Harlow was a Nuclear Free Zone... which was amusing when the Army's Nuclear convoy would park on that weighbridge over night ha ha ha ha.
Riding that route on a 1949 RT is one of my life pleasures.
BTW that's an old bus, not some kind of classic motorbike, if people didn't know.
There were 4 or 5 ‘Garys & Daves’ in our boozer, I recall … Gary the scar, Gazza, Gary the Gas & Black Gary … Dave chef, Dave the gardener, (Dave) Rosie & a golden retriever, called Dave.
Totally agree with your view on the likes of big SUV type cars doing 0-60 in 2 seconds as being totally and completely pointless. Funny how nearly any car and road enthusiast feels the same way lol
That little Citroen plastic machine would be ideal if only it wasn't a Citroen..
hay let's not knock Citroen.
They introduced front wheel drive a loooong way back.
And also they built the DS very stylish. let's also not forget the superb hydraulic suspension..
Obviously couldn't care less about the modern stuff...pos...
I like the Dacia Spring. 900kg EV. I'd tax cars based on weight. Then we could have small fun EVs that could genuinely claim to be helping with sustainability!
Thank you John. I enjoyed the program. And learned a lot. Please do more like this. -a loyal viewer in America
Love these, the highlight of my week
North Weald was a legendary Battle of Britain fighter station , just thought you ought to know. One Ford you didn’t mention was the Capri : surely the car of choice for archetypal Essex Man . Loved the jazz piano music.
Majority of Capris were built in Germany I believe…?
A fair few "Secret Nuclear Bunkers" across the country, when I first saw your thumbnail I initially thought you were in the Cheshire/Nantwich area.
The real trick is to make some of them actually contain a really secret area because who would believe that it would be right under the nose of a tourist attraction?
The secret is to get the real bunker, you really turn right.
Went to one at Withernsea near hull, the entrance looks exactly the same.
Condolences for beginning in Harlow and ending in Basildon
Brilliant as usual. Looking forward to you coming to Yorkshire.
Thanks mate, really enjoying reliving the journeys of my youth, from the comfort of my settee. Best wishes, Rob
Best intro yet, made me snort tea through my nose. Keep up the good work.
"It is said that Harlowe ghas one of the most extensive cycle networks in the country, but I don't care".
I spat my coffee out on my monitor.
Thanks, John.🤣
I'm enjoying the new series, Many thanks.😀
Thanks a lot mate, appreciate that!
John,your sarcasm is top tier!
Most good road journeys begin by exiting Basildon.
Although if the other end is going to be Harlow, I don't envy the choices you had to make!
I’m only five minutes into this exciting episode, and I get the distinct impression John might have been having a bit of a crappy day making this video.
I enjoy touring the UK on my motorbike. Like others I have spotted Secret Nuclear Bunker signs in several different locations and always wondered; Had Russia rained nuclear weapons down on the UK and all the senior military personnel , politicians and civil servants survived the onslaught safe in their secret nuclear bunkers. Just who exactly were they expecting to govern once they emerged? Loving the series... even Harlow and Basildon.
You never disappoint this old guy in Virginia in the States. Good job!
Just wanna say that my temper has been an issue for me recently, and your reaction at the end, though not overt, helped remind me that there's also nothing wrong with being frustrated by things, so thank you
liking this new series, as as for little chef it was the breakfasts or the tea cakes when on a journey or hung over. that's what i miss anyway. it was friendly signage and colour scheme. it was like losing a friend with them all closed, also far superior to the unhappy vomiter chain.
Great to see you put South Essex on the map!!
Worlds first Mini Roundabout is located between three pubs near Benfleet station
Similar story I read about old roundabouts on the A12 through London. These were build slightly oval to force traffic to slow down as they entered and a straighter exit to enable a faster exit. Again the design was taken directly from the continent which resulted in faster entry and slower exit. They realised this error when there were more accidents than on circular roundabouts. 🤔
Thanks
Thanks a lot :) Really appreciate that
The best TV programme not on TV. In Jon’s immortal words “wicked, sweet, awesome”. 👏👏👍😀
Now I have the urge to visit the Secret Nuclear Bunker 🤫
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
2:29 “and i don’t care” this is one of the quips that made me a subscriber as soon as i saw a short randomly some time ago 😂😂😂
Nice one, thanks for watching!
I remember the huge array of aerials near North Weald. It's also home to the rather obvious airfield, still in use, and the Epping Ongar Railway, a heritage railway between, you'll never guess where.
Warley hospital was known as the nut house when I was a kid and at school any stupid kids were said to have escaped from there.
There was a similar mental hospital in Sheffield called Middlewood which has also been converted to housing. When I was driving my mum nuts as a kid she would say you'll send me to Middlewood.
Yeah I was surprised the airfield wasn't mentioned. The little memorial museum is a good visit and it played a big part in WWII. Saw the final flight of the Vulcan bomber there when it did it's country wide final trip.
@@noggintubeI was there for the Vulcan as well. I remember the airshows back in the day. Flew out of there a few times as well.
'Get rid of those SUV's.' Wise words. Wise words indeed!
Wow that took me back, the entrance to Warley hospital no less where I did my nurse (and alcoholism) training late 80's
For anyone interested in architecture story behind the "new towns" like Harlow, Welyn, Letchworth etc I highly recommend the book "Concretopia"!
....I don't care......... can't be bothered......... sums Harlow up really 😂
Brilliant. Full marks for avoiding a ‘don’t look back in Ongar’ pun.
I remember when I was a kid (probably about 1985) that that Little Chef at the A127/A128 junction was the site of one of the first Travelodges. At that time they were all located next to Little Chefs and, if I remember rightly, they opened just five in the first batch including that one at the Halfway House junction.
Basildon's claim to fame is the hometown of band Depeche Mode 😊❤
Brilliant YouTubing!!!!!!!!
Great energy
Very witty/drole, makes me chuckle.
Really informative
Great presentation and editing
Wonderful stuff
Thanks
Nice one mate, thanks for watching!
4:45 Fun fact I like to call the Epping and Ongar railway the Brazzers railway instead because some sort of pornographical film was filmed in Ongar station a few years ago. No idea what the plot or premise is but it's a funny little factoid.
Stunningly high level of content as always
Actually, Basildon was inhabited before the new town, though it may not have been called that. The whole area or Laindon/Basildon/Pitsea consisted of what we now call 'Plotlands' - farmland sold off in little plots after the 1st world war for people to build their own houses on. The plots were mostly bought by working class Londoners as there was a housing shortage in East London. The houses ranged from shacks and old railway carriages up to pretty standard bungalows. The roads weren't paved and there wasn't much in the way of drainage or sewarage.... The middle classes utterly hated the idea of working class people doing things for themselves! The plots were almost all bought up and redeveloped into Basildon New Town in the 60s. There are one or two odd houses from that area left on the fringes - you actually passed the Plotlands trail near Dunton, which is an area of plotlands that is preserved with one remaining bungalow as a museum. I find it the spookiest place I've ever visited!!!
I remember my days back in Nahm. Dagenham that is. I served my apprenticeship at Fords.
Dunton was the equivalent to Ford's as the SAS is to the army.
I’ve been to the bunker a number of times, it is definitely worth a day out, very interesting place
I have been there a couple of times and it is amazing how old-fashioned it seems there - and most of it was constructed in my lifetime. I suppose that just proves that I am ancient. You go in through a long tunnel and can wander around from room to room in a one-way system for an hour or so and think you won't have to pay. However, you will have your money removed from you as you walk by the gift shop at the end.
Thank you Jon very enjoyable brilliant episode
Good watch.
The bunker is a great visit with a darkly humoured audio guide. On our bucket list for a revisit.
I always lolz at the “small disagreement of 1939-1945”.
I remember studying Harlow in primary school Geography when we were learning about maps. I think that kicked off my interest in maps.
I still think old churches are fascinating. I'm not religious at all but I love the history and the architecture.
Exactly 4 months ago, I was staying at the hotel behind the Starbucks just off Southend Arterial Road(A127)!
Stopping to look at what ever the hell I want to look at!
It's so good to see Highways England are looking after our road signs and keeping them clean even the ones big enough to go to school😊
Ah the A12 between Chelmsford and Ingatestone, 40 years ago as a young lad I always wondered why did this road open up to a 3 lane 2 mile highway before closing down again. My dad used to really put his foot down, it was a local spot to see just how fast your car can go. Now I know the reason why, has to be some prep for the anticipated M12 ! And to this day that stretch of road promises greater things, never achieved, before you slow down on the Ingatestone bypass never to return to such giddy heights before the M25 !
9:56 Based John, too bloody right, we don't need big SUVs we need smaller and more practical cars.
Kelvedon Hatch bunker is well worth a visit as it's almost completely intact. There is an identical one on the western edge of Norwich (still MOD property) that not many people know is there.
Nice one mate, keep up the good work. 👍🐺👍
Worked for a bit in harlow years ago and I agree with all your sentiment . Fantastic script
Fabulous
Just love the flat sarcasm. The very British way of explaining why things are so crap. You remind me of Jack Dee.
2:24 😂😂 spat my tea out haha
As always, great examples in this video of your wicked sense of humour 😂👍🏻 Thanks. Always makes my Sunday 😃
This is the Dull Man's Club of roads. Fricking epic.