In London I remember in the 00s most bus stop shelters using a design from the 80’s I think. Lots seemed to be replaced in the 10s and 20s. I know there is another new style bus shelter I’ve seen. But because in the 00s there were a lot of 80s style bus stops which are still around but rarer it makes me wonder if bus shelters use to be changed less in London.
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How long are bus stop shelters meant to last
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JKP
Member
Are you asking about advertising shelters or general shelters? Urban or rural?
Advertising shelters tend to be replaced more frequently such as when there is a change of contractor.
Rural bus shelters can be quite old. There are a number of examples locally to me of wooden shelters that date from the 1970s at least. I have come across a metal one that dated from the late 1940s finally being replaced in the 2010s.
I have seen pictures of old brick or stone and glass tram shelters from between the wars in use somewhere in the north of England.
Advertising shelters tend to be replaced more frequently such as when there is a change of contractor.
Rural bus shelters can be quite old. There are a number of examples locally to me of wooden shelters that date from the 1970s at least. I have come across a metal one that dated from the late 1940s finally being replaced in the 2010s.
I have seen pictures of old brick or stone and glass tram shelters from between the wars in use somewhere in the north of England.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Brighton and Leicester are places that have art deco shelters dating from the 1920s!!
Your comments are on the money. When advertising contractors change, they may look to replace. In other places, especially rural spots, they'll be much older. There's one near my home town and it's still got an NBC sign on it (underneath a modern vinyl) but reckon it was built in the 1950s
Dwarfer1979
Member
It depends on who owns it, council (& then which level of council) or advertising company who are "paying" for providing a shelter with advertising space (though in effect much of that payment is the provision of shelters in locations which may not be attractive from an advertising perspective, so not all advertiser owned shelters actually have advert space).
Council owned ones tend to last years, and if it was installed by lower level district or parish councils it may survive simply because no one is sure who actually owns it officially but gets looked after by the local community as an asset.
The advertising company owned ones will often be updated when new contracts are awarded (particularly if there is a change in supplier or sometimes contract requirements/permissions) or when a new technology such as video screens is introduced.
There's a surviving London Transport 'Q' type shelter in South Bucks, at the northbound Hedgerley Corner stop on the A355 in Farnham Royal.
A better picture of the Q type: https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/collections-online/infrastructure/item/1997-10433
A better picture of the Q type: https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/collections-online/infrastructure/item/1997-10433
Oh wow, I just gave it a google street view.
Any guesses when the original bus shelter was erected? I think it is made of concrete slabs, but I could be completely wrong.
My guess is 1930's, during the construction of the road and Armaments factory prior to WW2.
My guess is 1930's, during the construction of the road and Armaments factory prior to WW2.
GusB
Established Member
There were quite a few wooden bus shelters along my bus route and they lasted for years. Two of them disappeared years ago, but one lasted much longer. I'm not sure why it was taken down because it seemed to be in quite good condition. To be fair, it's not exactly a busy stop!
Link to Streetview image here:
Link to Streetview image here:
There were quite a few wooden bus shelters along my bus route and they lasted for years. Two of them disappeared years ago, but one lasted much longer. I'm not sure why it was taken down because it seemed to be in quite good condition. To be fair, it's not exactly a busy stop!
Link to Streetview image here:
Wow it’s very small. Reminds new of a shed or something.
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The old ones look more like proper shelters whilst the modern ones look a bit more comfortable with benches, though I feel modern London bus stops look a bit less comfortable with more perched seats.
GusB
Established Member
I don't think was much smaller than the modern ones; maybe it wasn't quite as wide, but it was a good bit deeper. I think it's probably the camera position that makes it look small.
JKP
Member
Looks a typical size for a rural bus shelter. If you stand at the far corner you can probably see the bus coming. It is possible that it’s main use is for schoolchildren so the coach or bus will automatically stop.
I was just looking at old footage of London bus route journeys, by old I just mean the late 90’s.
I think the seats were retro fitted or changed in some London bus stop shelters of that era. Probably became mandatory because low floor buses meant they had to cater more to passengers with disabilities.
I think the seats were retro fitted or changed in some London bus stop shelters of that era. Probably became mandatory because low floor buses meant they had to cater more to passengers with disabilities.
GusB
Established Member
Due to the lay-by and the trees on that side of the road, you'd have to pop your head out of the shelter to see if the bus was coming. Any kids that live round there would normally use the service bus so it won't necessarily stop automatically, although regular drivers will know to expect someone waiting there. It has been quite a long time since I saw anyone getting on or off there, but then again I don't use the bus early in the morning like I used to.
JKP
Member
Driving along the A693 today between Annfield Plain and Consett in County Durham I saw a relatively large corrugated iron shelter at a junction marked for Stony Heap. It did not look the most sturdy of structures but did have a wooden bench inside. It must be of some antiquity.
DelW
Established Member
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This stone and timber shelter was there when I used to catch the bus to school in the 1960s. Streetview shows it to have been replaced by an advertising shelter between 2012 and 2014.
There’s also one in the small village of Weston, Hertfordshire (near Letchworth Garden City), which can be seen in this photo: https://flic.kr/p/2pgECiB
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
It's not uncommon in rural areas. This one (near my home town) has recently replaced a similar one - I suppose it's more appropriate for a rural setting.
These are real survivors. Good to see a bit of transport heritage "in the wild"
In Reading there's a vintage shelter in Henley Road, Caversham that dates from the 1930s. Apparently it was originally a shelter by the river and was renovated about 10 years ago and repainted in Reading corporation's traditional maroon. It had been in a poor state and was threatened with being removed and replaced. This is an image from Google maps - you need to click it to see the full picture.
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
jumble
Established Member
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Not a bus shelter but a Victorian tram shelter
I wonder how old it is
Looks nice, reminds me of the Charles Holden stations a bit
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Makes me think trams were treated more like buses in the past. Well they did look more like buses or had similar capacity. Now they are almost like a light rail but much smaller.Not a bus shelter but a Victorian tram shelter
I wonder how old it is
JKP
Member
Art Deco by the look of things.
Man of Kent
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All three of them in this location are no longer in use, as the road has been realigned within the last few months. This section has been pedestrianised; replacement stops (with Adshel-type shelters) are 30 to 60 feet to the east, alongside the new northbound road.
Incidentally, they are listed https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1380714
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Indeed - art deco in the Streamline Moderne style that Holden employed.
Aha - changed since I was there last summer
izvor
Member
Nice restored one in Canterbury Road, Folkestone (google earth)
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Also in East Kent territory, the shelter/waiting room at the Guildhall stop in Sandwich has been repurposed as a café. No jokes about sandwich bars please, it's probably a tad up-market for the average bus passenger, even in Sandwich!
There's some nice signwriting over the doors too, possibly original, somewhat obscured by the eaves
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Also in East Kent territory, the shelter/waiting room at the Guildhall stop in Sandwich has been repurposed as a café. No jokes about sandwich bars please, it's probably a tad up-market for the average bus passenger, even in Sandwich!
There's some nice signwriting over the doors too, possibly original, somewhat obscured by the eaves
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