Smallest place signed from a motorway?

[Telstarbox]

I wondered about this because some places have a small population but are either well-known or strategically important.

For example West Malling is signed from M20 Junction 4 and has around 2,600 people.

[6637]

Pretty sure Dishforth (905 people) is signed from A1(M) northbound J48

[haggishunter]

Crianlarich, signed from the M9, M8 and M898, possibly M80 too. Looks like population shade under 200 from quick search!

[Steven]

Ignoring places with zero residents such as bridges and airports, then maybe Scotch Corner?

[Bryn666]

Has to be a toss-up between Crianlarich and Scotch Corner doesn't it?

[rhyds]

"Weston" is signed off the M54 westbound at J3. I'm not sure if its for the parish or the actual Weston Park, either way it is probably in with contention

[jnty]

Has to be a toss-up between Crianlarich and Scotch Corner doesn't it?

Is Scotch Corner strictly a habitable place'? I thought it described a junction rather than a settlement. You wouldn't refer to the population of Broxden Roundabout for example. (Please ignore Carstairs Junction!)

I'm surprised by how low the population of Crianlarich is. Without sources, Wikipedia says that Crawford, signed of the A74(M) at the other A702 junction, has 300 people.

I have an idea that Abington is signed on the A74(M) somewhere in a non-services context; if so, it has a population of 200.

[Potholes ate my car]

My first thought was Johnstonebridge and Kirtlebridge, both signposted from the A74(M). I can’t see a population listed for either but they can’t have many people living in them.

[jnty]

My first thought was Johnstonebridge and Kirtlebridge, both signposted from the A74(M). I can’t see a population listed for either but they can’t have many people living in them.

I'd bet the winner will be found on the A74(M) somewhere - it's surely a goldmine for this stuff.

[rileyrob]

There are some very small villages along the M74/A74(M) route, including Kirtlebridge which is signed at J20. I can't find a reliable population figure, but have just counted about 42-45 houses, (excluding some outlying farms) which even at an unlikely average of 4 people per house is less than 180 people. I suspect the real figure is nearer 120.

Of course, a junction is a place (more so than a bridge) so even if no one lives at Scotch Corner, the presence of the hotel and services makes it a place as per the original post...

[jnty]

Of course, a junction is a place (more so than a bridge) so even if no one lives at Scotch Corner, the presence of the hotel and services makes it a place as per the original post...

Fair enough, although South Bridge's population possibly exceeds many of the contenders here

[wallmeerkat]

Northern Ireland will be like shooting fish in a barrel

Loughgall for example - population (2011 census via wikipedia) - 282, signed from the M1 (NI)

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.4810552 ... ?entry=ttu

Sprucefield is a retail park area around the junction for the M1/A1 (NI), probably differentiates where they want to move Dublin traffic onto the next junction nearby (when it is probably quicker to go via Sprucefield)

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.4948914 ... ?entry=ttu

Carn and Seagoe (small areas around Portadown) from M12 (NI)

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.4516187 ... ?entry=ttu

Greencastle on the M2 (NI) is a fairly large junction before the motorway heads uphill, but it's an old village in North Belfast that was decimated by said junction

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.6453868 ... ?entry=ttu

Cushendall on M2 (NI) Ballymena bypass population (2011 census via wikipedia) - 1280

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.8699515 ... ?entry=ttu

[Runwell]

Brenzett on the M20? Not sure if it still is?

[B1040]

If the Huntingdon bypass had been A14(M) instead of A14, Boxworth (pop 218) would have been up there.

[SouthWest Philip]

Brenzett on the M20? Not sure if it still is?

Replaced by Hastings when jnc 10A was built.

[Steven]

"Weston" is signed off the M54 westbound at J3. I'm not sure if its for the parish or the actual Weston Park, either way it is probably in with contention

Weston-under-Lizard has a population of less than 500 - it's not listed on the Built-up Areas on the 2021 census, but it's an actual village.

Has to be a toss-up between Crianlarich and Scotch Corner doesn't it?

Is Scotch Corner strictly a habitable place'? I thought it described a junction rather than a settlement. You wouldn't refer to the population of Broxden Roundabout for example.

There are some hotels at Scotch Corner and a caravan park, so it will have a non-zero population at any given time, up to a maximum of not very much when the hotels and caravan park are full.

[James Heaton]

High Cross signed off one of the Newport M4 junctions (28?) must be in the mix

[Paul7755]

In the Post Office address finder “Scotch Corner” seems to be considered as a street in the village of Middleton Tyas. Perhaps it isn’t a place after all…

[Lockwood]

"Services"

[haggishunter]

Had a thought that Shap was in contention, but Google suggests it looks like a megalopolis compared to Crianlarich with a population of between 900 and 1000!

Can’t find any definitive population figure for Kirtlebridge, but a statement on a local website says ‘about 500’. Johnstonbridge supposedly had a population of 683 in 2016.