White Bus, The

In a boat on the Thames, a Boy is seen holding a dove. The backdrop is the Houses of Parliament in London SW1.

Must have been shot during low tide. (RL)

The camera moves to show the office block where a lone Girl is left typing. The Shell Centre, behind the roofline of County Hall in London SE1.

Another at low tide. (RL)

After finishing work, the Girl (Patricia Healey) leaves the office and heads to the station. Baker Street at the junction with Marylebone Road, London NW1. The corner is also seen in 'The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It' and, incidentally, this is the bank that is the subject of the film 'The Bank Job'.

Only the traffic lights have been moved. (RL)

A busy road is crossed. Marylebone Road.

And today even busier. (RL)

The Girl passes a man (Victor Henry) listening to a football match on a transistor radio. Craven Road W2 identified by Ray Glenister. (RL)

The background matches. SJ

The Man gets over excited when it appears that England are doing well, but smashes the radio on the pavement when Albania score a winning goal. Set him a "challenge" and no sooner said than done, Ray Glenister identifies this as Craven Road, Paddington, London W2 looking across the mouth of Chilworth Mews towards Westbourne Terrace. (RL)

Replacing Ray's proving Google; looks like the utility covers are still in the same place in the pavement. SJ

As the Girl walks through the station concourse, a young man (Stephen Moore) rushes into view. London's Paddington station.

The Lawn at Paddington. With acknowledgement to the staff at Paddington station for permission to take the shot. (PW)

As he walks alongside, the Young Man gives a hurried description of himself to the Girl.

The same, redesigned location now with thanks to Network Rail staff at Paddington station. (PW)

The Young Man says farewell and the Girl promises to write. Platform 1 at Paddington station in London W2. The location was also seen in 'Fool's Gold: The Story of the Brink's-Mat Robbery', 'Dr. Terror's House of Horrors', ‘The Mind Benders’, 'Joanna' and 'The Last Journey'.

From a similar angle now, taken with thanks to Network Rail staff at Paddington station. (PW)

The Girl alights with the other passengers when the train arrives at its destination. Piccadilly station on London Road in Manchester, Lancashire.

Peter Brown (1) made the most of his trip into Manchester and took his camera, ever mindful of 'Reelstreets'. Overlooking Platform 5 from the link bridge, the station has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels of custom. The ornate columns have survived the 1960 and 2002 renovations though! (RL)

The platforms are deserted as the Girl makes her way from the station. Manchester Piccadilly station.

This is platform 5. Occupied, almost permanently. (PW)

After stopping to watch a group of Doctors and Nurses escorting infirm People along the platform, the Girl continues to the station exit. Piccadilly station on London Road, Manchester.

I was hoping that the train blocking the view would be late . . . . . . . it wasn't. (PW)

Once outside the front of the station, the Girl sets off for the city centre. Peter Brown notes that this is the exterior of Manchester Central Station, now the Manchester Central Convention Complex and formerly GMex, and Jonathan G agrees providing support reasoning in the Header Section above. (RL)

Peter Brown (PB) returned to the Manchester Central Convention Complex.

City landmarks are seen starting with the clock tower of Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square.

The statue of Oliver Heywood and the Albert Memorial in Albert Square, Manchester 2. The location also appears in ‘A Taste of Honey’, 'Billy Liar', ‘The Parole Officer’ and 'The Lovers!'.

In the street, the Girl watches as a car chases a Woman. Facing the junction of Princess Street, Cross Street and John Dalton Street in Albert Square.

Peter Brown's view shows change including the Metrolink tram lines.

A Pursuer get out of the car and runs after the Woman. Albert Square, Manchester.

The Woman is captured and taken to the car. In the background stand now redeveloped buildings on Albert Square.

After viewing the apparent kidnapping, the Girl continues her walk through the streets. Cross Street with the corner of King Street to the left, identified by Peter Brown.

Peter's modern view shows that, structurally, nothing much has changed.

A Runner turns the corner as the road is crossed. Looking towards Oxford Street from St Peter's Square.

St. Peter's Square has now been pedestrianised as Peter Brown's comparison illustrates.

Oxford Street, Manchester. The Odeon cinema was also seen in 'The Parole Officer'.

Peter Brown's shot has the Odeon replaced by an office block.

More of Manchester's huge buildings are passed as the Girl makes her way through deserted streets. Unknown location.

In typical Lindsay Anderson style, the Girl walks a few frames in colour. Outside the York Cinema on York Street in Hulme, Lancashire.

Yes, Peter Brown tells us that this is the the site of the York Cinema, renamed the Aaben Cinema when it became an art-house. Despite being frequented by the likes of Danny Boyle and Mark Kermode, it couldn't compete with the city centre located Cornerhouse and was eventually replaced by housing.

A burnt out church . . . which Ian Chapman identifies as St. Michael's Church on Lavender Street, Hulme.

Modern housing now occupies the site of the church on the re-named Mary France Street (PB).

A white open top bus approaches and the Girl raises her arm to stop it. York Street, Hulme in Lancashire located by Ian Chapman who adds 'This is looking south from the York Cinema on the corner of City Road. St Michael's Church is just out of the frame to the right, while the spire of St Mary's Church is visible in the distance. This church also appears in 'The Whisperers'.

Peter Brown (PB) explains that the film captures Hulme during the so-called 'slum clearances' when Victorian terraces made way for the notorious crescents and deck-access housing. These didn't last long and the area was redeveloped again in the 1990s to reinstate terraced housing. York Street has been re-named Colin Murphy Road at this point.

The Girl boards the bus and it pulls away, but soon comes to a halt whilst Children are escorted across the road. There's a Salford Corporation bus behind the white bus and Ian Chapman identifies this as looking south-east on Blackfriars Road in Salford, Lancashire with St. Matthias church on the right.

Peter risked life and limb in the middle of the road to provide this shot to replace Ian's Google Earth View. He adds that the footbridge is further down Blackfriars Rd than the zebra crossing it replaced, which crossed roughly where the first crash barrier on the right is situated. The 'New Ship Inn' was on the right near to the bus stop, and then the church beyond that. (RL)

As the journey continues, more scenes of urban decay are passed. Ian Chapman advises that this is the Rootes used car depot on City Road in Hulme, Manchester.

The Mancunian Way opened the same year as the film was released and severs City Road at this point. (PB)

The bus turns as the tour visits a steel mill. Wikipedia identifies Metropolitan-Vickers works in Trafford Park as a location.

The bus is dwarfed as it parks up inside the Metropolitan-Vickers works. Trafford Park, Trafford in Manchester.

The Party walk in single file as they leave the works. Peter Brown advises that the massive warehouse belonged to Hall & Pickles Ltd., a steel stockholder and processor on Trafford Park Road. The warehouse can be spotted in 'Billy Liar'.

Peter's comparison shows that the vast building has been replaced by a widened road, grass and tree verges and modern warehouses behind the tree-line.

With the Passengers back on board, the bus sets off again.

Leaving a bridge behind, the bus, owned by Crosville and carrying registration number XFM 225, continues on its way. Ian Chapman tells us that here the bus is heading north along Trafford Road in Salford, having just crossed the Manchester Ship Canal.

The junction of Trafford Road and Colgate Lane captured by Peter Brown who adds that the heavy industry and wharves of Manchester Docks behind the wall have given way to the apartments of Salford Quays and media companies of Media City.

On the top deck, Passengers look around as they tour their city. Ian recognised the Vulcan Works on the right which means that the bus is heading south-west along Pollard Street in Ancoats, Manchester.

Peter replaces Ian's Google Earth View and similarly confirms that the Vulcan Works has been converted into flats. (RL)

Traffic builds up in the opposite direction. Looking south on Albion Street, Manchester with Gaythorn Mill on the right, found by Ian Chapman.

Another of Ian's Google Earth Views replaced by Peter reflecting the changed scene. He explains that all of the industrial buildings on Albion St and City Rd beyond have been swept away to be replaced by apartments. The site of Gaythorn Mill is a surface level car park but it is unlikely to remain that way for much longer. (RL)

The Mayor (Arthur Lowe) moves to sit next to the Girl. Ian advises that the bus is travelling south along Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, just north of Woodlands Road.

Peter sends us this street level photo showing that this multi-ethnic area was surprisingly quiet during his visit. Sadly, he says, the neo-baroque former Crumpsall and Cheetham Hill Library on the right is in a neglected state and doesn't look like it will last much longer. This shot replaces a Google Earth View from Ian. (RL)

After the Mayor places his hand on the Girl's knee, she moves to sit behind the Mace Bearer (John Sharp). Cheetham Hill Road with The Griffin public house in the background identified by Ian.

A Google Earth View from Ian has been replaced by this shot from Peter, saying that the Griffin pub has been sub-divided into businesses that reflect the diverse community in which it serves. The advertising hoarding has been there at least 55 years now! (RL)

The city tour continues. Ian confirms that the bus is travelling eastwards along City Road in Hulme, just to the east of Lower Moss Lane.

Peter Brown's view shows that the maisonettes on City Road have been replaced but the terrace on Lordsmead Street to the left remains.

The Conductress uses the bus' public address to describe the more modern buildings in the city. Confirmed by Ian Chapman, this shows two blocks of, now refurbished, flats in the City Road area of Hulme, Manchester 15 with St. George's church in the right background. The church was seen in 'Charlie Bubbles'.

Near to City Road, the Ledburn Court flats on the left and Westcott Court on the right remain and have been re-clad. The church is now hidden by the trees. (PB)

The bus passes between Kersal Flats, an estate of tightly packed tower blocks built in the early 1960s. Salford in Lancashire.

Peter Brown approached the entrance to the flats from ground level to find that only 'Spencer House' in the middle remains in place. 'Shakespeare House' on the left and 'Browning House' on the right in the screen capture have both been demolished. 'Spencer House' has been refurbished, is owner-occupied and has been renamed 'Peninsula'. (RL)

Kersal Way. Most of the flats were demolished in 1990.

Peter confirms the screen capture text confirming that all three of the blocks, 'Browning House' on the left; 'Shakespeare House' in the centre and 'Johnson House' on the right, have been demolished. The area has returned to nature and presumably will be redeveloped at a later date. (RL)

Kersal Way, Salford with the River Irwell passing behind the block of shops. Nothing in this image now remains except for the river.

The block of shops (Byrom House) and Burns House on the right in the screen capture have also met the wrecking ball. Only 'Spencer House' (now Peninsula) and 'Shelley House' (now Tilehurst Court, not seen in any of the original captures) remain from the original blocks. The excellent website http://www.kersalflats.co.uk/ gives a wealth of information about the history of this late-50s housing scheme. (RL)

The bus makes it's way from the central urban area and into suburbia. Ian Chapman located this as facing south from Littleton Bridge along Littleton Road in Salford, Lancashire.

Another replacement from Peter for one of Ian's Google images. The original capture, he says, was taken from the side of the Racecourse Hotel. This is now closed and so it proved impossible to obtain the same angle for the photo. The street lights are in the same position though! This area is being extensively redeveloped. The terrace houses, epitomised by the gable end in the original capture, are being replaced by modern mews-type housing. The site of Manchester Racecourse on the left, which closed in 1963, is being turned into a flood basin for the Irwell, a wetland nature reserve, and housing. He hopes somebody got their sums right! We share your hopes Peter. (RL)

The Conductress points out upmarket properties along the suburban road. Cheetham Hill Road is mentioned as a location on Wikipedia.

The tour arrives at the film's Queen's Oak Park. The building has had many names including Buile Hill High School and stands off Eccles Old Road in Salford. Lorna Robinson adds that she was a pupil at the time of filming when it was known as Pendleton High School for Girls.

The Mayor leads the rest of the Passengers into the building. Lorna Robinson identifies this as the entrance to Pendleton High School for Girls on Eccles Road in Salford.

Back in the city centre, the Mayor addresses the tour. Manchester Central Library in St Peters Square.

Peter Brown found no change to the Central Library.

The camera tilts down to reveal the group before they enter the art gallery. St Peters Square, Manchester 2. The location also features in 'The Parole Officer'.

More of the library, captured by Peter Brown (PB).

Following the trip to the art gallery, the Passengers are treated to a Civil Defence exercise. Alongside St. Michael's church in Hulme located by Ian Chapman.

Looking east, the area is now unrecognisable due to the 1990s redevelopment. The entrance to the church and its tower were on the left. (PB)

Buildings burn and the audience watching the display turn into dummies as the Girl makes her way from the scene. The ruins of St. Michael's church on Lavender Street in Hulme identified by Ian Chapman.

Ledburn Court and Westcott Court, both lurking in the smoke in the original capture, can now be seen clearly behind Mary France Street. (PB)

Children play as darkness starts to fall. Oxford Street at the junction of Burnett Street on the left and Croydon Street to the right in the Ordsall area of Salford, Lancashire identified by Ian Chapman.

The population go about their business as the Girl walks through streets of terraces. Ian Chapman found West Craven Street in Salford, looking south from Robert Hall Street.

The corner of Tatton Street and West Craven Street in Salford identified by Ian Chapman.

Large parts of Ordsall have been redeveloped, however, Ian Chapman believes this to be West Park Street with the Park Hotel on the corner of Oxford Street in the background.

Evening draws in as the Girl crosses the street to end her day eating chips in a cafe. Tatton Street in Ordsall, Salford looking east from Phoebe Street with the Duke of Edinburgh public house on the right, located by Ian Chapman.