Monday 28th January 2013
Michael Portillo, in one of his Great British Railway Journeys, shown on BBC2 at 6.30 p.m. today, travelled from Paddington to Warminster, in the first of five stages that will take him to Newton Abbot. His first port of call in Wiltshire was at Westbury.
Michael Portillo got off the train
at Westbury Railway Station.
Michael made his way up to Westbury White Horse,
a chalk figure carved in the escarpment
near the Bratton Castle Iron Age hill fort.
He was told by local people that the horse
commemorates the Battle of Ethandune
but its origins are obscure.
This lady said she lived in one of the villages
and she told Michael some information
about the horse.
Michael was also told how the horse used
to be cleaned in the past.
Michael abseiled down the monument
to help with the latest clean-up.
Afterwards, Michael caught a train to Warminster,
where he visited the Pound Street Malthouse.