The Man Who Lives in the Middle of the M62
Wednesday, 20th December 2006 by Alex Turnbull
The story goes that when they were building the M62 motorway through northern England, one homeowner refused to sell his property, forcing the motorway to be split either side of his home. The story became ingrained in the history of the area, and John Shuttleworth even wrote a song about it.
Interesting I thought, and then in a spectacularly disappointing move, Wikipedia swiftly debunked this claim as myth. It seems that the owners, Ken and Beth Wild, have lived and worked here since 1971 (Ken is a sheep farmer), and the road actually forks around the farm to negotiate the hilly terrain.
Boo! Wikipedia, eater of time and destroyer of legend, curse you, and all who write for you! Here's a BBC article about the couple with a video clip (and despite the sunny image Google provides, this looks like an absolutely miserable place to live).
Thanks to Nev Stokes and Cookie Monster.
About the author
Alex has decided that his title will be Senior Vice President of Stuff.
“negotiate the hilly terrain”?
The M62 crosses the middle of the Pennines . . . what did they expect?
NIce Dam everywhere around
Take a look at this village called Kursdorf in Germany: https://www.googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=&c=&t=&hl=en&ll=51.419951,12.231817&z=15 Since the northern runway has been completed and a taxiway was built to connect the eastern ends of old and new runway, Kursdorf is surrounded by the airport. Plus, there is the autobahn/expressway A14 and a railroad between the village and the new runway.
Looks like a fuel spill on the runway or something.
https://www.googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=&c=&t=k&hl=en&ll=51.414873,12.227874&z=18
I know that stretch of motorway well; I live 15 miles to the east and my parents live 15 miles to the west. Despite the motorway running through it that valley is a beautiful place, with the gorgeous town of Ripponden at one end and Blackstone Edge at the other.
I suppose if you’re willing to put up with 24 hour traffic noise it’s a great place to live!
Nikita: Now that’s some serious noise problem…
They should ditch the farm and open a Gas Station.
Nearby there is a verny hig dam i can see…
Just up the road is the majestic Scammoden Bridge. It was the longest single-span non-suspension bridge in the world when it was built.
https://www.googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=&c=&t=k&hl=en&ll=53.647411,-1.930439&z=17
Some nice shots here: http://www.cbrd.co.uk/media/photo/gallery18.shtml
Was this the inspiration for the Jethro Tull song “Farm on the Freeway?”
It is true that the owner of the farm objected. I was a teenager at the time living in the area when it was being constructed. The owner put loudspeakers on the roof of his farmhouse and played loud music and shouted protests at the workers as they prepared the site. he did refuse to move, and so the motorway was split around his land
i live about two minutes away from this place and it is very cool indeed!! such a great example of yorkshire life; that an englishman will never leave his castle!!
From an interview with the owner that the Wikipedia article links to: “It weren’t a matter that he wouldn’t sell the land for the motorway: he didn’t own the land, he’s only a tenant farmer. It was because of the geography of the land. The westbound carriageway’s a lot higher than the eastbound and they couldn’t get the two to sit together that’s why it parts. So it was only geography that saved the place. If they’d have wanted it they’d have taken it.
I knew the late Ken Wild, and the man who currently runs his sheep on this farm. Ken told me that the story, (in direct disagreement with one of the above comments, and agreeing with Rauz) was in fact simply an urban myth and that he would have moved to another nearby farm if he’d had the means to do so. The motorway split was entirely due to geological conditions in the area.
Incredibly the farm hasn’t even got double glazing, let alone triple……
If this was my plot i would have done the same the council probably wasnt offering to buy the land off the owner at a good price. The owner did the right thing Not to sell it to the council. I drive up and down the motorway whats it ganna cost me in fuel going round the house. Least theres something to see in the middle of the motorway and i can tell my kids look out the window of the car and you can see a house in the middle of the motorway. Is that nice. YES IT IS….
Check the website for a drivers-eye view of the house!
In the UK, if the authorities want to build on your land they don’t give you the choice to sell or not, they give you a ‘compulsary purchase order’ and evict you if you refuse to leave. Therefore the myth is very much a myth. A good one though!
LOL! Click on my name to view the website!