The Pennine Tower M6 Services - Lancaster

History

“The Pennine Tower at Lancaster Services on the M6, originally known as Forton Services, is a striking relic of 1960s motorway architecture. Built between 1964 and 1965 by TP Bennett & Sons for Top Rank Motor Inns, the 22metre high hexagonal tower once housed an elevated restaurant with panoramic views over Morecambe Bay and the surrounding fells. Designed to act as a beacon for passing motorists, it embodied the futuristic optimism of the post-war motorway age. Inside, diners enjoyed full-service meals such as steak and Lancashire Hot Pot, an ambitious concept for a roadside stop, but high running costs and new fire regulations led to its closure in 1989. Since then, the tower has stood largely unused, occasionally serving as office or storage space. In 2012 it was granted Grade II listed status by Historic England for its architectural and historical significance. Today, though closed to the public, the Pennine Tower remains an iconic symbol of Britain’s early motorway era and a bold vision of modern travel now frozen in time”.