Steptoe and Son

A traffic warden contemplates giving Steptoes horse, Delilah, a parking ticket. Carey Street, London WC2, which also features in 'Hidden Face', 'A Fish Called Wanda', 'The Look of Love' and 'A Pair of Briefs'.

Easily recognisable.

Harold (Harry H. Corbett) and Albert Steptoe (Wilfrid Brambell) leaving the divorce courts. Inside The Royal Courts of Justice which are also seen in 'Genevieve' and 'A Pair of Briefs'.

NR provides this picture of the same place. Image copyright Google Streetview.

Outside the courts Harold finds the parking ticket. Sarah Smith advises that her Grandad, Timothy Smith, was followed around the East End and at his home by the writers as part of their research to create the character for Albert Steptoe himself. Sarah adds that her Grandad was a 'wheeler dealer' with twelve children who made his money by being a cheeky but shrewd fellow. "He could sell ice to Eskimos!"

Carey Street, London again at the rear of The Royal Court of Justice.

Steptoe and Son make their way home. Ruth says "Aldwych, London. There was controversy over the entrance sculptures at the time, fig leaf or not? Building demolished and rebuilt recently".

The late Ruth Patterson took this picture adding "The location was formerly English Electric House (Marconi House was adjoining) and before that the Original Gaiety Theatre. See 'Trottie True' image 003. St. Clement Danes church is at the back and their bells chime 'Oranges and Lemons'. It is the official RAF church".

Steptoes scrapyard on Oildrum Lane, Shepherds Bush is actually Adela Street off Kensal Road in London W10. There is a canal at the end of Adela Street between the yard and the row of three storey buildings which are on Harrow Road and have since been demolished.

The Steptoes have come up in the world!! This is opposite the building in image ss006 and its reflection can be seen in the windows.

Harold enters the yard.

Adela Street off Kensal Road in London W10.

In flashback, Harolds bride Zita is heading to the church on their wedding day. Lansdowne Crescent, London W11 which is also seen in 'The Passenger', 'Seven Days to Noon', 'The Blue Lamp' and 'Hennessy'.

The same location.

Zita is met by the vicar who advises that Harold hasn't arrived yet.

St. Johns Church, Lansdowne Crescent, London W11.

Looking from Adela Street towards Kensall Road W10.

The same place on a rainy morning.

Harold races to the church by car after finding the mislaid wedding ring. Stephen Cook identifies the building as the now demolished Walmer Arms which was at the end of Walmer Road W11 but has since been developed as Verity Close.

And this is what the location looks like now!

Getting nearer to the church. The car has just turned into Lancaster Road just around the corner from the previous image. The white building to the left is The Lancaster public house on the corner of Walmer Road.

The whole area has been redeveloped. Image by Phil Wilkinson and information from Steve Cook along with this link showing the two pubs. http://deadpubs.co.uk/LondonPubs/ Kensington/LancasterArms.shtml

After the marriage fails during the honeymoon, Harold returns to the scrap round. Southern Row, London W10.

A difficult location to find . . . . the explanation is in the following two shots.

As the previous image. The "German" gasholder in the distance is the same one as in ss006? NR/SJ

The building to the left in image ss012 can still be seen on Bing Maps (left of centre in this image). However, it has since been demolished and doesn't appear on Google streetview. If you look along Southern Row on Bing the buildings towards the end of the street look the same. Southern Row, London W10. Image copyright Bing Maps. (NR)

Same image as above.

The same building (centre) from a different angle on Bing Maps. Image copyright Bing Maps. (NR)

A extra then and now from Neil Rigby, After Harold passes the building in ss012, he sees the wedding.

Our Lady Of The Holy Souls R.C. Church, Bosworth Road, London W10. NR

Another then and now from Neil Rigby.

Well matched by Neil and Google.

Harold approaches a tower block. Unknown location.

Hazlewood Tower, Golborne Gardens London W10. NR

Trellick Tower on Golborne Road, Kilburn, London W10. The tower block was also seen in 'Burning an Illusion'.

The morning fog is still covering the top.

Harold and Albert find, what they think, is Harolds son at the scrapyard and decide to have him Christened. St Johns Church, Lansdowne Crescent, again as in image ss008.

As with most buildings, the church is cleaner now.

Back in the 'present' the pair return home along Great George Street, London SW1 after passing through Parliament Square.

A similar view now.