Photos of Old Motorways and Roads

The experimental motorway sign, on the experimental M6 Preston Bypass at Samlesbury.

The 'wonky' signs at Britain's first motorway junction.

The M6 Preston Bypass shortly after opening - it looks nothing like a motorway!

Another view of the Preston Bypass.

The M1 motorway under construction (1950s).

A roundabout interchange being built above the M1.

A sign for the M1, looking up the M10 before the road opened.

One of the signs positioned at the start of every early motorway, this one on the M10.

A shot of the M1 as it appeared in 1959; one of the best-built motorways that there would be for some time, but still showing scant regard for safety.

The old-style, artistic sign at M1 J16, Upper Heyford.

A staple of older motorway junctions was this stacked sign, with proof that the M45 used to be the route to Birmingham.

The old style 'butterfly' sign which was placed above the motorway diverge.

A 'Motorway M1' added to the existing pre-Worboys signage on the A45 at St James' End, Northampton.

The A5 Watling Street which the M1 replaced.

The A20(M) Maidstone Bypass, a great example of a very old motorway, in 1962.

A sign for the A20(M), positioned on the A229 Sandling Interchange.

The A1(M) at Stevenage, with a yellow sign from the RAC announcing the road is open and some old-style start of motorway signs.

Another view of the A1(M), with no central barrier in 1963.

Looking south at M5 J8 in 1964. The large, chequered sign (probably covering up a normal sign?) tells traffic that this is temporarily the end of the motorway.

Looking west (down the M50) from the same spot, and it's clear that the junction still isn't finished.

The start of Northern Ireland's M1 in Belfast, pictured a few years after opening with a sign pointing towards Dungannon. As was common with government policy at the time, Dublin is ignored. They also opted to use national speed limit signs.

The newly-opened M1, somewhere between Belfast and Lisburn. As with the English motorways, there is no central barrier.

A bus taking the exit at M1 J7 in 1963. The old-style road sign in the background offers directions to Lisburn and Newry, and again Dublin is ignored.

The newly-built Sprucefield Interchange, with the southbound exit having to give way (with pre-Worboys signage) to the northbound exit that was eventually removed.

Looking across the roundabout at Sprucefield, with the new M1 flyover in the background. The entry slip on the far left has since been removed.

There is still work to be done on the northbound slip roads at Sprucefield. An old-style motorway sign can be seen, too. The off-slip on the right has since been removed.

The opening ceremony for the M2 motorway in Kent.

The A2 at Park Pale/Three Crutches, with a "Motorway 200 yds ahead" gantry. This has now been replaced by a much wider road.

The M2 Stockbury Interchange in 1965.

A route confirmatory sign on the main M2.

A big "motorway open" sign by the M6 at Standish.

Joining the M6 at Standish, in 1963.

One of Lancashire's famous brightly-coloured bridges over the M6.

Woolston Interchange with the new Thelwall Viaduct in the background.

Directions to the M6's opening ceremony, attached to an old fingerpost.

The A40 meeting the B4009 in 1965, with some dark road signs. The B4009 was later diverted to meet the M40 at Lewknor, but the pub (the Lambert Arms) is still there today.

The A1 at Barnsdale Bar, in 1966.