Great British Road Journeys - Wiltshire - Swindon to Salisbury - Ep. 51

[@tichwykes]

I were expecting Jon to loose his shit at the end with those kids screaming 🤣

[@jovetj]

Sure you weren't expecting him to mount the white horse and trample them...? 😀 I was

[@BroadwayJoe99]

@@jovetj pleasepleasepleaseplease

[@anonymousinternetuser7519]

I was waiting for him to acknowledge that... or throw something at them.

[@marcuscross8051]

They were probably screaming "Look! It's John from Auto Shenanigans!"

[@roberthindle5146]

Doesn't he carry a flamethrower for these occasions?

[@horriblechris9656]

Salisbury cathedral is also famous for its mechanical clock, said to be the oldest working clock in the world. It's well known for attracting foreign tourists from Russia, who travel to see the clock and don't visit the city for any other reason.

[@keithvers569]

And mysteriously two people died

[@ste2442]

@@keithvers569the clock must have been ticking for them

[@judgedread-q4t]

Apparently it has no hands but does have a bell (fr.cloche), which is where the word clock comes from.

[@keithvers569]

@ I didn’t know that

[@jovetj]

Well, that's paid for itself right there, that has

[@mikehiggins4079]

Did you spot the MOD Camouflage School near Salisbury? No? Well it just shows how good they are

[@KaitlynnUK]

Ta bum tish

[@andrewhaines3259]

Only when it snows can it be seen!

[@tommyball1863]

Also, I love to go to Marlborough to watching the switching on of their decorations at Christmas…. The Marlborough Lights

[@barneypaws4883]

Tar very much for that

[@Renault_75-34MX]

One thing I'd have mentioned is the former GWR works, were one of the surviving buildings was turned into the STEAM museum, which is about the GWR

[@clivemortimore8203]

I did notice that but we must give Jon credit for mentioning the railway that did have its head office in Swindon, The Midland and South Western Joint Railway.

[@binarydinosaurs]

It was probably cloed for the winter.

[@mightymartinpetrov]

TBF, the outro drone footage of the white horse did indeed look whicked, sweet, awesome.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thing was so big I couldnt fit it all in. But enough about my weekend.

[@marcuscross8051]

Auto Shenanigans is now an integral part of my Sunday just like Antiques Roadshow is for my mum.

[@tweaker1968]

Don't forget Songs of Praise!... 🤓

[@johnlennox-pe2nq]

sad fam

[@andymerrett]

@@johnlennox-pe2nq bellend

[@shaneeslick]

G'day Marcus, Down here in Australia Jon takes me on the Great British Road Journeys while I have breakfast Monday mornings 😍☕

[@thomasrayuk]

The AR closing theme tune playing while the credits scroll still send a shiver down my spine reminding me that I haven't done my homework.

[@Ibis117]

When you exited screen right, at the end, I was expecting a muffled "Ow!", and then for you to walk back into shot for the outro.

[@David_Crayford]

LOL That's a funny Monty Pythonesque sketch. But you are not allowed to do that, and best not to film it.

[@bazbaz8412]

John i think you missed the fact the TV licence detection van was a Dodge, or would that have been just a crap joke

[@kelvinhill9874]

I thought it was. Commer. Or did they put the Dodge name on the Commer vans?

[@type17]

@@kelvinhill9874 The early ones were badged Commer, then the Rootes Group was taken over by Chrysler (1970), and by 1976, their Dodge brand had replaced the Commer one.

[@BillyKirbyUK]

Jon you didn't mention the chalk stream in Marlborough which you were standing next to. Still very clean and a great habitat for all sorts of rare aquatic life.

[@adamjolley8552]

I liked this video so I pressed the button specifically for that 👉🏻

[@marcuscross8051]

I also liked it and therefore also pressed the button.

[@rochellehewston9367]

Love your comparison between the The Accord and the Civic Type R, your narrative always makes me smile. Thanks again John

[@chrismoule7242]

As an aex-resident of Trowbridge, the whole of this area is very familiar. Lovely to see it all again - thanks.

[@fredbawden1468]

Fun fact about Salisbury cathedral is that it did nearly collapse, to the point where it's actually bent the stone pillars that support the spire. How stone bends but doesn't break, I don't know, but go inside and you'll see it's true.

[@JohnSmithShields]

Russian terrorists also found it fascinating.

[@Alienalloy]

been there, seen that, can confirm, inner columns are bent.

[@Alan_Stinchcombe]

Strange but true: all materials are elastic, although some are much stiffer than others.

[@dwaynealexander9413]

@@Alienalloy the wooden beams were, not sure if still are, twisted at one point. Remembering hearing something on BBC Wiltshire about replacing them a few years ago.

[@jonh6585]

Also the cathedral foundations are only a little over 2ft deep and the whole cathedral "floats" on the water table that must be checked twice daily with a dipstick. The dipstick is used through a small ca in the floor. The level must be just right and is controlled by sluices in the river. If they get it wrong the whole spire could topple, so it's an important dipstick.

[@JimChampion]

This has reminded me to visit Marlborough today. There are several ways to get there from here, but using the marvellous A4 between Newbury and Marlborough is the finest drive.

[@Sadie595]

The tv license detector van 😂😂😂

[@Dutch-vj2eg]

One of your US based subscribers here. I spent the week of New Year's in a cottage near Marlborough with the family. Driving on the left was not too bad (having lived in Scotland for 3 years in the 80s) but I am very glad not to have come across that "magic" roundabout..... We didn't plan in much detail for that week but did stumble on the stones near Avebury and were amazed by all the tank crossings driving to and from Stonehenge (one of few bucket list items). Too bad we didn't cross paths.....

[@Alan_Stinchcombe]

Generally, I'd advise against crossing paths with tanks.

[@ianreynolds9733]

When I smoked, my favourites were Marlboro because my friends didn’t like them and combined with a Zippo lighter I was clearly cool……as usual your film is superb. Keep up the good work fella!

[@ConfusedRaccoon]

Salisbury is/was home to the, I think it was called the Myotis Rally. Or rather the plains were, with all the tank tracks. It was an absolute banger of a road rally across all the firing ranges. Kick off was about 9-10pm and we wouldn't finish until about 5-6 inn the morning. Although this might have ended in 2014, I can't find anything about it from more recently.

[@pauldupre2269]

Crikey John, you showed that list of Patreons sooooo quick, they couldn't be seen, surely they deserve more than that, maybe more to the side, but slower, maybe along the top or bottom? I don't know 🤷‍♂️🤔 Not that I am one, my apologies John 👍 Love this Channel ❤ John, you are just Brilliant! As it happens my friend used to work at said Honda Buildings, she still works for Honda, but obviously not there 😂😂

[@docdeth904]

The second horse was an equestrian masterpiece compared to the other, which was common and uninspiring, it almost put me to sleep regardless of your witty banter and sharp comments, fortunately, the hollars of your live commenters and your excellent editing of your outro revivified me, and I was able to do on with my day in good order. I salute you, great expositor of all that is motorways! (Edited for rampant lysdexia)

[@Alan_Stinchcombe]

Is an "expisitor" what @AutoShenanigans does to highways, whereas an expositor is what Neil deGrasse Tyson does to astrophysics?

[@docdeth904]

@@Alan_Stinchcombe An expisitor is what a dyslexic gets after a 20 hour shift at work...

[@DRSEXPLORING]

Just wondering if the car museum is back open again????

[@martinjellyman3256]

I love it when you horse around at the end.

[@skipsadventures]

Great vid as always. Obviously you can’t include everything but thought the Fovant Badges would make an appearance.

[@mojosabien]

Yeah, much better horse in the outro. Another exceptional film John. Well done 👍

[@dwaynealexander9413]

The only one also made from concrete!

[@davidharris3264]

Jon, interesting as usual and informative. Thanks to you I learn more of my country from an 85 YO

[@smiffsoft]

That brief glimpse of an EP3 CTR reminded me how much I miss mine. Best car I've ever owned. Even better was that it was a company car so I didn't have to pay for the very regular new sets of front tyres it needed 😇

[@AutoShenanigans]

I did a few sets in mine :D

[@smiffsoft]

@@AutoShenanigans Those Bridgestones weren't cheap, or so the finance dept told me every 3 or 4 months 😂

[@MrWalkr]

Was thinking the same, especially because the one pictured was mine! 😂

[@billmmckelvie5188]

Great video John, just a shame Honda's gone, those once saviours of British Leyland! Talking of Honda and precision engineering, there was another precision engineering company who sadly had shut up shop in 1986 and that was Swindon works formerly the GWR loco works. They were noted for their tighter tolerances on their locomotives and shuddered with surprise when LNER engines came in that weren't as tight with theirs. I am sure the Army Air Corps or RAF could have taken you up for some serious low flying over the red zone!

[@johnpaddock01]

And I wonder how many people got the reference when you mentioned one of the four remaining copies of the magna carta..... Which was nice 😂😂😂

[@stephenyates962]

And there we are guys, that's all we've got time for this week...from Jon's doppelganger. Another fwickedsweetawesome video Jon, and another Sunday Sundayed

[@melissanewton7462]

Nothing mentioned about the towns railway history, typical. Sadly forgotten these days all thanks Thatcher and her cronies!

[@DustyCustard]

You've overlooked the ghost canal of Swindon - now an enchanting footpath/cycleway leading right into town

[@DanielMeakin1]

Brilliant video Jon. Great way to end the week!

[@timbo9200]

Fantastic! Its sunday!

[@David_Crayford]

Impressive outro. That's a big horse! Very pretty shots, even with the frost and fog. I could have watched that passing traffic for longer, but perhaps a 24hr webcam is more suitable for that. 👍

[@blisteringbarnaclesmagnets6364]

Good morning Jon hope you had a great weekend ⚓️🧲👍

[@howardneal442]

Really enjoy your content matey. Informative, entertaining and a certain 'britishness' about the videos. Keep up the great work Jon.

[@MrWalkr]

Last thing I expected to see on one of these videos is a picture of my old car, some good words about it luckily 😂

[@andrewdenby8239]

Another classic episode of Auto Shenanigans, thanks John... where you lead, others will follow 😉

[@minibus9]

superb video looking forward to the next onen

[@whyyoulidl]

Hey MNIJ (maybe 'nay' more apt this week), thx for another great vid install. Have a super smashing week 🤗

[@davidyardley512]

An absolutely fascinating, whicked sweet awesome episode Jon, learning lots!

[@boohaka]

Brilliant! ❤

[@PhilipMurphy8]

A excellent Road Journeys video on KZbin 👍

[@Jim-gz2bz]

I live near Tidworth I was looking forward when I saw the route and amazed to learn about the drone over such a large area round here.

[@russellfrost4171]

If you are interested in reviewing Service Stations on motorways, a new Welcome Break has just opened at Junction 33 on M1 at Sheffield. Love your delivery, it's novel and interesting, unlike other channels that just give facts in monotone. Keep it up please.

[@KatiePickersgill]

Apparently complete with a dedicated bus service...!!!

[@wteff8586]

your editing of the east/west mixup feels like a really good example for explaining connected speech to english learners

[@kitpowell3224]

The best white horse is the Cherhill White Horse (just outside Calne, where I live). It even has a monument next to it on the hill.

[@ska_boodles]

My week turned out better than expected, thanks for asking

[@conroyknapp4903]

Looks like the Westbury White Horse has been recently re-painted - perhaps they knew you were coming? Excellent video as always. BTW the eye of the horse used to be just grass it looks like tarmac now.

[@Sarge084]

Wroughton, pronounced Raw-ton, was the location of the RAF Hospital where I had my enlistment medical.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I was never going to get it right :D

[@Sarge084]

@@AutoShenanigans You're allowed one mispronunciation per video, and you seem to have used your entitlement! judiciously!

[@Hitperson]

I'm waiting for John to visit Frome...

[@rogercantwell3622]

The locals call it Rough-town for the lols.

[@GarlicBrea_d]

3:40 Did you visit Old lady's house? After planting some daffodils of opinion on the roundabout of chat at the end of conversation street, of course.

[@tonysmith3182]

…and if you went along the A303 a few years ago and looked across at the airbase of Boscombe Down, the most easterly hangar roof had a 10ft square of much darker coloured roofing sheets…..having to be replaced after a Tornado aircraft ejection seat was accidentally set off while the plane was in the hangar….made a big hole in the roof!

[@roderickmain9697]

The exciting (!) thing s about Swindon (!!) is the GWR steam engine buildings - part od which is now a museum with lots of preserved engines. So next you go to Swindon (!!!) I'd recommend a visit. Marlborough once held the record for the "wettest" town in England - i.e. the most pubs per head of population. A fun fact our 6th form day out coach stopped off to prove on the way home. As I recall, some of the pubs had already closed and it was shorty thereafter that it lost its "Wettest" crown to the town where I was brought up ,Witney, Oxfordshire....which has also lost the crown due to the decline in beer drinking. Plus ca change. Theres a rumour that the second largest customer of underground trains is the MOD and that there is a secret set of underground tunnels under Salisbury plane connecting all the bases together. Obviously, theres no evidence but I found the story amusing.

[@emdB67]

Watching these videos, I'm beginning to form the opinion that the default natural land use in the UK was RAF Airfields. They must just clear one every time they wish to build a new factory or plant a forest. 😆

[@tenalafel]

Towards the end of the Second Small Disagreement they could be found almost everywhere. Following todays video in Google Earth I located several beyond the one mentioned : There's one near Lyneham (south west of Swindon) , one near Lambourn Woodlands ( north east of Marlborough ), several in the area that shall not mentioned, and Boscombe Down just near Amesbury (that last one seems to be still used by the RAF )

[@jonh6585]

Well we are airstrip one during the second disagreement and beyond into the cold disagreement

[@DelticFilm]

I thought Jon would have picked up on Salisbury being the only cathedral with a dip stick?

[@Dan23_7]

Hahaha I was watching a cathedral program on the shitbox the other night and some guy went there. I’m into architecture not religion. The dipstick is shaped like a Jesus cross.

[@Eric_Hunt194]

Canterbury cathedral had a dipstick, but he resigned.

[@HashTagDan1]

I cant believe Jon missed the Salisbury is home to Janspeed and Burlen ltd who work out of an old spitfire manufacturing warehouse and make race exhaust systems and carburettors respectively

[@larkhill2119]

Amesbury was the home base of Scorpion Racing and assisted a few famous F1 drivers, F1 managers and pit crew.

[@whyyoulidl]

​​@@larkhill2119 ooh, as in scorpion exhausts? I have one on the uno turbo 🚀

[@larkhill2119]

@@whyyoulidl No pure Formula ford race team and race drivers school at Thuxton. Kenny Gray, Mike Thackwell, J Palmer. James Weaver some examples. Ian Tayor and Rob Wilson at the race school where you were taught to drive flat around the back.

[@arthuralford]

I owned a 2002 Honda Civic Si that was built in Swindon. Loved that car

[@PiousMoltar]

Thanks for bringing some attention to the often ignored weast side of the county!

[@adambacsanyi]

I used to transport spoilers to Honda Swindon for a while from Germany.

[@davem9204]

You could have warned us that you were going to tell us that.... a spoiler alert.

[@sam.p12345]

Really like the natural dry humour!

[@oliverlanham]

Jon always brightens up my Sunday!

[@theonlywoody2shoes]

It may have been in a no (drone) fly zone, but you missed Crofton when heading south from Swindon. 2 massive steam powered beam engines that pump water for the K&A canal - maybe next time?

[@JimGDMAC]

Surprised you didn't meantion Old Sarum while at Salisbury, with another historic old RAF airfield close by. Also not that far away the excellent Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop which is on the edge of an active Army aviation base. (close to Over Wallop and Nether Wallop)

[@dwaynealexander9413]

Great museum that :) Old Sarum meaning "Old Salisbury" too!

[@marcwaller3657]

There's an excellent aviation museum at Old Sarum itself; The Boscombe Down Aviation collection. They've got some amazing aircraft and are incredible at restorations. Well worth a visit if you have any interest in aviation.

[@JimGDMAC]

@ I haven't been down in the Salisbury aea since they opened it so no idea about just how good it is.

[@jonh6585]

Maybe do Salisbury to Andover. Up passed porton down and the Finsbury ring. The army flying museum,. Danebury ironage hillfort, or even turn right down to Stockbridge and beyond to the Winchester auto barn at the head of the a272

[@huwlewis9059]

Went to Salisbury once - on a train to sell rag mags from uni. Never made it beyond the pub at the end of the road to the station. Tried Bishop’s Tipple and found it very moorish. Drank a few, sold about 6 mags in the pub and rolled back onto the train.

[@JonosBtheMC]

That's the first time I've heard Bishop's Tipple described as Andalucian.

[@Eric_Hunt194]

Othello is my favourite of Shakespeare's plays, if I see one production I just have to see another...

[@MatthewGilliard]

Next time you're at Westbury White Horse, take a look for the information sign that has a drawing of what the horse looked like pre-1778. (it's on the wikipedia page too, if you don't feel like driving)

[@bruceblackmar9942]

I know the Great Western Railway factory is long gone as a factory, but I thought you would at least give it a mention. Keep up your amazing work, i know it is enjoyed all over the world.

[@john07973]

I lived and worked in Swindon for a few years in the late 80s. Honda had taken up some of the slack after British Rail pulling out and the town was having a bit of a boom. Another bit of trivia EMI had opened up a CD manufacturing facility in Greenbridge Road near where I worked around about the same time, W H Smith had their HQ along the road not sure if they're still there.

[@TurboTimsWorld]

I used to live in Wanborough ! and did my driving test across the magic roundabout!

[@dhdove]

Love your videos Jon but Honda DID NOT close its Swindon factory as a result of Brexit, lots of other reasons but not Brexit. I’m surprised that you made such a lazy mistake.

[@davie2675]

Loved the Grandpa Simpson link 👍

[@philtucker1224]

Nice one John, it’s very nice down there. Also I think there’s a village there called Nomansland?

[@PRCOM]

Great video jon, hope u have a great week

[@Droningonuk]

How did brexit affect selling cars to Japan? Was Japan in Europe before it sailed back to Asia?

[@RBXTrains]

I do always find "enjoy the rest of your week whatever it is you get up to" funny watching at 7am on a Monday

[@memyselfandeye1234]

Yeah Them Other Stones In Wilshire Are BS To... Nice Vid As Ever Chap ... Thank You Kindly... peace

[@geoffpottenger4877]

Hi John just been informed Knowsley council in Merseyside are about to spend huge amounts of money rearranging Tarbuck Island intersection at the end of the m57 Jnc of M62 I pass through often and don't find any problems

[@tommyball1863]

That’s a white giraffe! 🦒

[@doctorwalex]

Nice one Jon.

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Great Sunday video Jon, have a good week

[@brokengirl248]

Thank you for the upload. Hope your keeping well 😊

[@richardhowlett7398]

I liked this video Jon . I thought you might have mentioned the ancient stone circle at Avebury, or the old county town of Wilton, probably best known now for carpets !

[@keithposter5543]

There's a stone circle at Avebury?

[@pluggedinpete]

@@keithposter5543 there is actually three!

[@crowds54]

Loved the video, great as usual, in an area I used to work and......... I have an EP3 which freekin love , but sadley I can't add a photo 😞

[@dougmorris2134]

Hi John, your very fleeting mention of Imber, in that red area. The village, was incorporated into the Salisbury Plain military training area in 1943 (during “The second minor disagreement”) with all residents given 47 days notice to vacate their properties, and never to return. There are, however “open days” for access to the 16th Century St. Giles Church, 30 March - 1 April 2025 * On 17 Aug 2025 is a very special day. The Number 23A bus service operates from Warminster to Imber and from Tilshead and Chitterne to Imber. Most of the buses are vintage vehicles from various collections or collectors, many being ex-London Transport such as original Routemasters but not all. For details price, area access limitations and conditions check out Imberbus As an old Maidstone & District poster on a bus said “See more of the Country by BUS” and see a very rare view of a bit of Wiltshire by the Number 23A On some off the beaten track Bus Shananigans Note: I have no connection with Imberbus. Best wishes from Oxfordshire

[@oldmanuserphan]

"...wondering what wild wonders we would witness." would have been a nice fit near the beginning there. :)

[@ehsnils]

The large western tower looks more like a defensive structure, a castellan or castella, basically a standalone tower, given its size and proportions. They were sometimes built in the vicinity of the church. At least around where I live (Gotland, Sweden) where there are no less than 6 of these in varying state with the origins from the 12th century. That said - it's quite possible that it started its life as a defensive structure and then was rebuilt into being part of the church. At least it's worth a thought.

[@lollington_bear]

OMG that final horse reveal was comedic timing at its best. I nearly choked on my lunch. Well played sir!

[@adrianpitt4211]

Just love it...keep up the good work...

[@andreasebert1782]

Salisbury is a picturesque place and also the place where my uncle's family is from.😊 In October I tried to count the windows of the cathedral but gave up after finishing the 2nd side😅 The cafe in the museum right next to the cathedral offers tasty scones, too👌

[@AL-zg5qs]

Someone once said that the David Murray John Tower in Swindon was the tallest building between London and New York. 😊

[@Goldenoldie49]

Close call with the horses, but I think the last one might have won by a nose!

[@towdcheshiretup7671]

Now there's a great series 'Roads that were formerly Railways'....... 😉

[@therealsharps]

Go back and look at the Cathedral, the tower was added later - and you can see the stone pillars holding it up, bending- if you go inside and look

[@Supposedlyimrightwingnow]

John my favourite cigarettes were named after 2 of englands best strikers...lambert & butler. 😂

[@redshorse]

A most wonderful piece of youtube.

[@steverpcb]

Imber village in the training area is opened to the public on bank holidays :)

[@dwaynealexander9413]

normally Easter, August and Christmas. the other bank hols its normally closed.

[@oliverbutterfield9844]

I enjoyed the fast show reference, if that’s what it was.

[@David_Crayford]

The OCD side of me loves the uncompromising straight lines of Roman Roads. But I read that they can send drivers to sleep, or blind you if the sun is lined up.

[@Dan23_7]

I drive for a living, I assure you both of those scenarios are bollocks.

[@hairyairey]

If you're driving in winter low sun is always a hazard. I drive in sunglasses a lot

[@MajorT0m]

You drive in sunglasses? That must be a challenge. I usually drive in a car.

[@hairyairey]

@MajorT0m turbo sunglasses in fact!

[@TheHumanEwok]

It's worth mentioning the history of the GWR in Swindon and the STEAM museum too. Although if there's any crossover between car and train enthusiasts on this channel they've probably already been there a bunch of times

[@terrier_productions]

Speaking of Swindon and it’s industrial heritage - Swindon was the home of the Great Western Railway for over 100 years between 1835 and 1948 when the GWR was absorbed into British Railways

[@melissanewton7462]

The factory closed in 1986. The last locos being built were shunting locos for Kenya. Refurbishing stock such as E.M.U.'s and D.M.U.'s was undertaken there mainly. Ripping out asbestos linings. A lot of new stock could have been built there for today's lines, but instead it became blocks of flats and an outlet shopping centre. Only thing is we have a bigger rail museum on part of the site.

[@highdownmartin]

@@melissanewton7462I liked the old museum. Steam just pissed me off. Far too sanitised

[@Anmeteor9663]

If you ask some people it was the GWR that absorbed the rest of the railways and the sum total was BR.😂

[@RBWill1]

Aww gutted. You were right in my neck of the woods. I live between that play park you were at and the layby near Honda. Would have taken you for a pint or a spin in the Nomad . To satisfy my curiosity were the initial bits to camera filmed at Stratton Woods?