Chris Cooper (16)

The author is lorry driver who has what he calls a ‘healthy interest’ in the Great North Road. I call it a bloody obsession. Either way, he’s done the best thing he can under the circumstances and written a book about it. The result is fascinating.

He details the changes to the ancient route, but his main interest is in the changes made since 1921. Every inch is detailed, every change remarked on, and most illustrated with superb before-and-after shots. His mam is in some of them to show more provide scale. Particularly interesting are the ox bow lay-bys where the road has been straightened, or orphaned stretches now encroached by woods. In one case he has found a stretch entirely unimproved that must be the kind of thing that so annoyed the Romans. In other places it is now people’s drive-ways, or the strip running along between a Tesco and its car park.

I learned loads. It turns out I’ve been to both ends and not realised the significance of where I was. Even the stretch I’m familiar with, between Durham and Alnwick, held surprises. I’d always been told that it had crossed the Tyne and run up the Side, and I’d marvelled at its narrowness. Turns out it didn’t go that way. Still one of many ridiculous bottlenecks though.

My advice is to follow along with aerial photography or you’ll very quickly get lost. show less