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Croydon to Shoreham-by-Sea

Michael Portillo arrives in west Croydon, where he uncovers a once-celebrated, now forgotten, mixed-race composer with an uncannily familiar name.

Steered by his Edwardian Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo arrives in west Croydon, where he uncovers a once-celebrated, now forgotten, mixed-race composer with an uncannily familiar name. With the modern British rail network now half the size of the Edwardian one, Michael is delighted to discover a railway renaissance in Three Bridges.

After inspecting a new depot and its fleet of new Class 700 trains, Michael is accorded the great honour of washing one down. Next stop Lewes, where Michael makes a beeline for Charleston, the beautiful home of the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, where he finds every surface exquisitely decorated by the inhabitants. At Shoreham-by-Sea, Michael discovers that magnificent Edwardians in flying machines took off from the oldest licensed airport in the country. Michael takes to the skies.

29 minutes

Clip

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Michael Portillo
Series Producer Alison Kreps
Director Joseph Cunningham
Production Company FremantleMedia

Broadcasts

Steam railway programmes on 麻豆官网首页入口 iPlayer

A collection of programmes from the 麻豆官网首页入口 archives on the beauty of steam locomotives.