Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Lydney to Newport

Michael Portillo sees why the Victorians fell for the romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey and discovers Britain's hidden micro-mines within the Forest of Dean.

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what remains of Bradshaw's Britain.

All this week he is travelling west, from Oxford in the heart of England, through the Malvern Hills and into Wales, taking in the unique Victorian heritage of the South Wales coastline.

Today Michael discovers Britain's hidden micro-mines within the Forest of Dean, sees why the Victorians fell for the romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey and uncovers the railway engineering behind the industrial icon that is Newport Transporter Bridge.

29 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Michael Portillo
Series Producer Jay Taylor
Executive Producer John Comerford

Broadcasts

Steam railway programmes on 麻豆社 iPlayer

A collection of programmes from the 麻豆社 archives on the beauty of steam locomotives.