Arriving in the later 1890s, by the end of the First World War motor vehicles had ousted horses as the main means of transporting goods. In the inter-war years many middle class families acquired cars, and by the 1960s car ownership was commonplace. Two-car families were almost the norm by the end of the century.

This guide provides a brief introduction to the buildings of what some have called the Motor Age: car factories, petrol stations and car showrooms, domestic garages, car parks, motorway service stations, motels, and the roadhouses and cafes where motorists could find refreshment. Also outlined are the ever-evolving types of road which facilitated this transport revolution.