Regent and National - Royal Hotel Garage - Crockernwell, Devon, 1950's
Not just one petrol outlet in this rural location but two! Near on the right a Regent pump outside the Royal Hotel and up the road a National Benzole pole sign can be seen. Neither exist today of course, probably both closed after the A30 bypass was built around Crockernwell. Even the Royal hotel isn't a hotel anymore - not sure when it last hosted any guests. The person who wrote this postcard makes reference to this being the hotel that was used by the notorious "Hanging" Judge Jeffreys to sentence many people. I did of course fact check this and found that it is only rumoured to have been - not set in stone - but it is claimed that after the Monmouth Uprising a small court room was built on the side of the hotel and this was used to deal with many of those who took part in the mini rebellion. There is no article on the internet I can find which places any of these trials further west than Dorchester. Nevertheless even to the present day the mothers of West Somerset control their unruly offspring by threatening to send for 'Judge Jeffreys.' Here's the same location today - a very tranquil spot after the bypassing of Crockernwell, the closure of the hotel and the lack of any trials for treason! www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.7177076,-3.7675217,3a,75y,270h,...
Regent and National - Royal Hotel Garage - Crockernwell, Devon, 1950's
Not just one petrol outlet in this rural location but two! Near on the right a Regent pump outside the Royal Hotel and up the road a National Benzole pole sign can be seen. Neither exist today of course, probably both closed after the A30 bypass was built around Crockernwell. Even the Royal hotel isn't a hotel anymore - not sure when it last hosted any guests. The person who wrote this postcard makes reference to this being the hotel that was used by the notorious "Hanging" Judge Jeffreys to sentence many people. I did of course fact check this and found that it is only rumoured to have been - not set in stone - but it is claimed that after the Monmouth Uprising a small court room was built on the side of the hotel and this was used to deal with many of those who took part in the mini rebellion. There is no article on the internet I can find which places any of these trials further west than Dorchester. Nevertheless even to the present day the mothers of West Somerset control their unruly offspring by threatening to send for 'Judge Jeffreys.' Here's the same location today - a very tranquil spot after the bypassing of Crockernwell, the closure of the hotel and the lack of any trials for treason! www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.7177076,-3.7675217,3a,75y,270h,...