Draft:Northampton services
| Northampton Services | |
|---|---|
 The southbound services building. | |
Location in Northamptonshire, England | |
| Information | |
| County | West Northamptonshire |
| Road | M1, A43, A5123 |
| Coordinates: | 52°12′33″N 0°56′41″W / 52.2092°N 0.9448°W |
| Operator | Roadchef |
| Previous operator(s) | Blue Boar |
| Previous name(s) | Rothersthorpe Services |
| Date opened | 1978 |
| Website | www |
Northampton services is a motorway service station off the M1 and A43 interchange near Northampton, England. It is owned by Roadchef, and used to be called Rothersthorpe.
History
Planning permission was given in November 1971, for ten acres, and catering for 212 customers. In 1974, the managing director of Blue Boar was John Lampitt.[1]
Construction started on 1 January 1973, being built by Kottler and Heron, part of Bacal Construction, costing £257,000.[2]
When first opened, Rothersthorpe Services (as it was then known) was located between junctions, an 'online' service area. However, in 1991 the Blisworth Bypass on the A43 was opened,[3] this linked into the M1 at the Rothersthorpe site, creating a junction surrounding the site.
The footbridge was taken out of use for the public in 2002 when the site was redeveloped, though it still remains in place.
Location
Northampton services are located at junction 15A of the M1 at a junction with the A43, because of the way the service area has evolved, it is possible to reach and exit the services without negotiating the main junction, but uniquely it is also possible to access the service area on the opposite carriageway legally.
The services are about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Northampton town centre and 65 miles (105 km) north west of London.
References
- ^ Coventry Evening Telegraph Friday 19 November 1971, page 36
- ^ Coventry Evening Telegraph Monday 18 December 1972, page 12
- ^ Blisworth Bypass - Accessed 14 January 2009