Scotch Corner
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Scotch Corner is a junction of the A1(M) and A66 trunk roads near Richmond in North Yorkshire, England. It has been described as "the modern gateway to Cumbria, the North East and Scotland",<ref name="RSH">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and is a primary destination signed from as far away as the M6 motorway, Template:Convert away. The junction's name is derived from the fact that it is the point of divergence for traffic coming from London, the East Midlands and Yorkshire wishing to continue either to Edinburgh and eastern Scotland (along the A1(M)) or to Glasgow and western Scotland (by taking the A66).
ToponymEdit
The name originated from being the junction where the north–south Roman road known as "Dere Street", which crossed the River Tees at Piercebridge, met the Roman road which went west through Bowes and Brough.<ref name="Lloyd">Template:Cite news</ref> It is where travellers to eastern Scotland (now via A1(M) and/or A68) are separated from travellers to western Scotland (now via A66 and M6/ A74(M)/M74).
GeographyEdit
The A1(M) leads north towards North East England and Scotland, and south towards London. The A66 leads north-west towards Penrith and the M6 motorway. There are also three other exits from the junction: the A6055 road north and south, with the southbound side leading to the A6108 towards the Yorkshire Dales and Richmond. The third exit is towards Middleton Tyas and Croft-on-Tees and is a minor road which also provides access to the services.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other nearby locations include Gilling West and Aske Hall.
The Scotch Corner area is drained by the Scorton Beck which eventually flows into the Swale.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The area to the west of the junction is drained by Gilling Beck in the Skeeby/Holme/Dalton Beck catchment, also eventually flowing into the Swale<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
The Romans were responsible for building the first roads to meet at this point and the site of the original junction is just a few hundred yards away from the modern day intersection.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In AD 71 the Romans took control of the area when they defeated the Brigantes, a Celtic tribe at the Battle of Scotch Corner (1st century).<ref name="RSH"/> There was a major Roman settlement at Scotch Corner, with its own mint.<ref name="Lloyd" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
It is a landmark for planning and describing routes. For example, it is around Template:Convert from Leeds, providing a useful distance for cycling events.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was used by cyclists for navigation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was in a fox hunting district, providing a means of identifying the location when reporting events.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The £8 million Scotch Corner diversion opened in July 1971, which created a grade separated junction on the A1.<ref>Scotch Corner interchange Commercial Motor 9 July 1971 page 26</ref><ref name="DS">Template:Cite news</ref> Later, a £380 million upgrade of the A1 between Leeming Bar and Barton Interchange meant that the road was upgraded to three-lane motorway standard in March 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This created the opportunity for further archaeological investigation.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
FacilitiesEdit
The Three Tuns coaching inn stood at Scotch Corner from the 1820s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The inn subsequently became a roadhouse in the early days of motorised travel.<ref name="Lloyd" /> It was demolished in 1939 when the road was widened.<ref name=Lloyd/> The Scotch Corner Hotel was established there in 1939, built on the site of a mid-16th century inn and now operated by Holiday Inn.<ref name="Lloyd" /><ref name="BBC-1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Almost as soon as it was opened, part of the hotel was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force for convalescing airmen.<ref name="DS"/> In 2011 it underwent a £3 million refurbishment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
A Moto Hospitality service station opened here in 1980.<ref name="BBC-1" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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