1903: Today saw an extension to Peterborough's growing tram network when the service to Newark began, the trams travelling along the Eastfield Road. The driver - the motorman - had to stand in an open area to drive the tram and was exposed to all weathers. He worked a ten-hour shift, six days a week, at a rate of 5d an hour, which provided him with a weekly wage of 25s. (Peterborough Advertiser)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.
The world’s first mini roundabout (a roundabout without a central island) was opened in Peterborough in 1969. It was designed by Frank Blackmore a traffic engineer at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory from 1960 to 1981, who struggled to get the idea of a mini roundabout accepted, though it is now considered by many experts to be the most cost-effective junction design ever devised.
The mini roundabout was situated near London Road and Oundle Road and when it first openned Frank Blackmore stationed himself at the roundabout with a loud hailer to tell drivers what to do. It was replaced by traffic lights in 2008.
Note: Benfleet claims to be the site of the first mini roundabout, but Peterborough got there first!
Reference:
https://www.theguardian.com/th...
Image Wikimedia Commons: public domain