Silver Fleet, The

Jaap van Leyden (Ralph Richardson) makes his way to see Colonel von Schiffer. The Town Hall, or Trinity Guild Hall, on Queen Street in King's Lynn, Norfolk. The building also features in 2019's 'David Copperfield'.

Greg Chapman ventured out on a grim January day to take this comparison shot,

The shipyard owner's papers are scrutinised. In front of the Town Hall in King's Lynn.

Avoiding the traffic on the road, Greg took this shot from the best possible angle.

Van Leyden ponders as he walks through Schipsdam after the occupying army's Colonel demands that the shipyard resumes construction. Philip Anderton identifies this as Queen Mary Drive in Port Sunlight village on the Wirral in Cheshire which is close to the Cammell Laird shipyard seen in other scenes.

Phillip provides this view of the location now. Image copyright Google.

Crossing the street, van Leyden heads for his son's school. Looking down onto the junction of Nelson Street, St. Margaret's Road and Priory Lane in King's Lynn. The location was used in 'One of Our Aircraft is Missing'.

From ground level, Greg took this image of the same, largely unchanged location.

The camera tracks van Leyden. Nelson Street runs to the right while Priory Lane leads off ahead to the left of the former Valiant Sailor inn.

Another picture at street level by Greg Chapman.

Van Leyden nears the school. Church Drive Primary School in Port Sunlight found by Phillip Anderton.

Checking his watch, van Leyden enters the school yard where he hears a teacher telling the story of Dutch hero Piet Hein to her class. With the help of Google and web images, Phillip Anderton identifies this as Church Drive Primary School, Port Sunlight in Cheshire.

Willem van Leyden (Willem Akkerman) comes out of school with the other children. Norma Chaplin was a pupil at King's Lynn High School for Girls in King Street and recognises this to be the archway from the playground to the garden, taken from the garden. Norma adds that the school has since been converted to residential accommodation and is now private.

Under enemy control, the shipyard resumes working to complete two submarines. Martin Cleaver at Wirral Borough Council Records and Archive Services advises that this is the old entrance to Cammell Laird's shipyard at the bottom of Abbey Street in Birkenhead, Cheshire.

Refusing to work for the enemy, ship worker Bastiaan Peters (Charles Victor) arrives home penniless and hungry. Hampton Court on Nelson Street, King's Lynn, before 1950s restoration.

Johann Smit runs for his life when it's discovered that he has told van Leyden of a plot led by Piet Hein. King's Staithe Lane with Queen Street in the distance.

A brighter view of the street by Greg who adds that "The white barn to the centre has been an antique shop for some 30 years".

Jost Meertens and Dirk van Houten chase the quisling through the streets. Looking towards the River Great Ouse on King's Staithe Lane.

Virtually unchanged in this shot from Greg.

Smit escapes onto the canal side. Overlooking the River Great Ouse with buildings in West Lynn on the opposite bank.

Sea defences have since been erected as can be seen in Greg's modern view.

An enemy soldier sees Smit running and gives chase before the traitor is shot. Looking over the Pur Fleet bridge from Purfleet Place into King Street in King's Lynn. The wall also appears in 'Revolution'.

Greg took this from a similar viewpoint over 64 years after filming took place. (RL)

Workers enter the ship yard on the morning of U107's trial.The Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead confirmed by Martin Cleaver.

After van Leyden winks at Jost Meertens when he boards U107 with his men, the submarine puts to sea.

Jaap van Leyden oversees work at the shipyard in this additional capture by Phillip Anderton who recognised the background as Cammell Laird's shipyard on the River Mersey in Birkenhead, Cheshire which is confirmed by Martin Cleaver of who adds "Ralph Richardson is standing at the riverward end of Laird's No.5 Graving Dock and is looking north."

Sabotage and acts of violence against the enemy increase after news of Jost Meertens taking U107 and sailing to Britain reaches Schipsdam. To the right stands the Pilot Tower of the King's Lynn Conservancy Board building on Common Staithe Quay.

The tower still stands in Greg's shot.

Enemy soldiers arrive to take hostages. This appears to be Common Staithe Quay in King's Lynn with the cannery across the Great Ouse. Greg Chapman adds that the cannery was demolished around the year 2000.

This comparison from Greg shows more of the sea defences.

When pressured to finish the work, Jaap returns to the yard to check progress. Laird's No.1 Graving Dock in Birkenhead located by Martin Cleaver.

The Colonel's car heads to collect van Leyden after a bomb is reported at the ship yard. The Valiant Sailor stands to the left in this view along Nelson Street.

The camera pans with the car as it speeds round a corner. Looking towards Church Street on Priory Lane in King's Lynn, Norfolk.

Greg Chapman took a similar scene, noting that the tall building at the far end of the street has been demolished and replaced with Church Street car park.

Followed by Lieutenant Wernicke, van Leyden begins to search for the device. Martin Cleaver advises that this is the river end of No.6 Dock, one of the two largest at Laird's yard in Birkenhead.

On board U108, van Leyden waits for the submarine to set sail before putting his final act of sabotage into operation. Eastern Wharf in Dundee with the pier of the Fish Dock in the right background.