Photographer Philip Butler’s latest book sees him share pictures of 226 notable filling stations and vehicle workshops, and while it might at first glance seem a tongue-in-cheek look at these buildings, it’s a far more nuanced and warm-hearted endeavour, and one that’s impossible not to appreciate.
Partly inspired by the 1963 artist’s book Twentysix Gasoline Stations, some of the structures selected for Butler’s lens might be pedestrian, even architecturally awkward, but many sport far more interesting designs, while his introduction makes clear he is as fond of these buildings as many operators will be. One of Forecourt Trader’s Top 50 Indies even puts in an appearance over the course of Butler’s travels across Britain.
The introduction spans eight early pages of the book and contains a wealth of information. While it is reasonably well known that petrol used to be sold from chemist shops, for example, it was news to me that the AA spearheaded purpose-built petrol stations, complete with forecourt roofs to shield motorists from the elements, and reserved only for members.
Other gems include the fact that the first self-service pumps were installed in 1963 at Turnbull’s Filling Station in Plymouth, while the oldest continually operating petrol station opened in 1926 in Richmond, south-west London, and currently trades as a 24-hour Texaco.
Also of note is that while today’s forecourt operators often do battle with local authorities over development plans, this was the case almost from day one, as a “heavy handed approach to advertising” that saw “brightly coloured, illuminated pumps”, and “a patchwork of incongruous, large enamel signs” installed at forecourts prompted a campaign from the Council for the Preservation of Rural England, which ultimately led to regulation in the form of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act of 1928, a law that was only repealed in 2014.
While charting the impact of the rise of the motor car, architectural trends and wider societal changes on forecourt design, Butler details the history of the petrol station in an engaging manner, giving attention to buildings that are often overlooked, but undoubtedly contribute to the fabric and history of the country.
He concludes that “these endearing buildings” may often be “functional structures”, but they nonetheless “retain a distinct British identity”, and there remains “a great deal of affection for an old British garage”.
Butler’s photographs are expertly framed and lit, with an unfussy approach that suits his subjects perfectly. And while 226 Garages and Service Stations undoubtedly evokes feelings of affection, it’s impossible not to feel sense of nostalgia, too, as many of the abandoned sites it documents would once have been both the primary sources of income for their owners, and hubs for the communities they served.
With forecourts on the one hand currently enjoying great success, and on the other facing what is arguably an existential threat in the shape of the electric car, Butler’s book is an indispensable photographic guide to where we are, and how we got here.
All photos reproduced with permission of the author. 226 Garages and Service Stations is published by Fuel, and is available to purchase direct, or via Amazon.
