BBC film in Newton Abbot Museum - Newton Abbot Town and GWR Museum

By: Felicity Cole
Added: 07 June 2012

The BBC 2 programmer for The Great British Railway Journeys, presented by Michael Portillo, contacted the museum having seen the Great Western Railway Room within the museum on the website.  They wanted to film the Brunel's atmospheric railway story for their new series............

We agreed of course!

Filming began on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the centre of the town. Mr Portillo had his copy of Bradshaw's Guide close by him at all times.  Bradshaw includes two pieces of information about Newton Abbot,The Globe Hotel and the Memorial stone near St Leonard's Tower, which commemorates the first declaration of intent by William of Orange to become King of England in 1688

Passers-by did ‘double takes’ as ‘ACTION!’ was shouted outside in Courtenay Street!  David Grylls, one of the volunteers and an ex-GWR man himself, was interviewed talking about his GWR days and the impact of the Railways on the town.  Newton Abbot had been known as the Swindon of the South West.

The filming continued in the GWR Room of the museum until early evening.

It was an interesting experience, and if all the subjects that were covered by the film crew are included within the programme it will be a wonderful advertisement for the town and the Museum!