In the years 1900 to 1939 the social and economic structure of Britain changed radically driven by access to technical advances and improved social and working conditions. A major factor in this was the growth of motor transport which resulted in three million motor vehicles using Britain’s roads by 1939.
The book focuses on the historic county of Westmorland and examines the changes that took place in this period. Early chapters focus on Westmorland County Council’s efforts to bring the county’s roads up to the standard needed to carry increasing levels of motor traffic. The book then moves to look at the opportunities motor transport offered to business and industry and local entrepreneurs who seized the opportunity to set up roadside businesses including petrol-filling stations and cafés. The local population also benefited as they were able to take advantage of bus services providing affordable transport and the ability to participate in new forms of activity – including coach excursions and motor sports.
The book is well illustrated with photographs, advertisements and maps – most of these from the early 20th century.

Dr Jean Turnbull was born and still lives in what was the county of Westmorland. She is a social historian who completed her PhD on the subject of inter-war housing provision at Lancaster University. Her research interests focus on late 19th and early 20th century British history. The subjects of previous publications include housing in the 1920s and 30s and the cooperative movement. Her research into the impact of motor transport continues alongside the examination of schemes set up to help the unemployed in West Cumberland in the 1930s. She is an enthusiastic advocate of oral history and is currently chair of the Kendal Oral History Group.