What is self rising flour used for?

I only use it for this great bread.
3 cups flour
big pinch o sugar
1 12oz bottle of beer (any)

bake in a loafpan at 375 for 1 hour.

It seems to me self rising flour is a basic pantry ingredient for convenience in England. I find it called for often in pancake or scone recipes. Seeing it in a recipe can really throw us off here in the United States, but it is available in most grocery stores, and I found directions for making your own self-rising flour by Martha Stewart here
http://www.marthastewart.com/272993/baking-substitutions

It's a mixture of all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.

Self rising flour is a sort of short cut flour which has salt and baking powder (chemical leavening) already mixed into it. I know it is called for in some biscuit and muffin recipes.