Poet’s Pub

Watched on television, undergraduate poet Saturday Keith takes part in the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge. To the top, Barnes Railway Bridge crosses the Thames in London SW13.

Saturday Keith visits The Old Downy Pelican where he is offered a job managing the premises by new owner Lady Mercy Cotton. A matted shot of Le Talbooth Hotel at Gun Hill south of Stratford St. Mary in Essex identified on the Wakefield CAMRA website.

With thanks to Keighley for allowing me free access to take all the relevant shots that reveal significant changes over the years. (RL)

Soon after the Oxford rowing blue takes over running the ancient inn, trade begins to increase. Looking in the direction of Stratford St Mary on Lower Street with Stratford Bridge crossing the River Stour.

Other than more greenery very much the same. (RL)

The camera follows Elmer Van Buren as he drives into the car park of the, now renamed, Downy Pelican. Le Talbooth at Gun Hill, Dedham to the north of Colchester.

From this angle it remains very much the same. (RL)

Quentin Cotton (Peter Croft) puts the finishing touches on one of the pub signs. The frontage of Le Talbooth, established as a restaurant, after filming, in 1952.

I couldn't ask the owner to move his car. (RL)

Nelly Bly crosses the road and enters the Post Office to send a telegram. Village Road, Denham in Buckinghamshire.

Antony Blair spent a wet day in the Village seventy years later.

A masque is held at the Downy Pelican. The topiary in the right background may give this location away.

With so many changes over the years it is difficult to know whether it is the same bush or a different location but it looks about right for our purposes. (RL)

Driven away in Quentin's car, Joanna Benbow is kidnapped by Williams which prompts the film's car chase. Various parts of Denham feature in 'Don't Take It to Heart', 'The Man in the Moon', 'Great Day', 'Made in Heaven', 'Murder She Said', 'Stormy Crossing', 'Ghost of a Chance', 'Deadlock', 'The Square Peg', 'Captain Clegg' and 'The Games' amongst many.

Antony took this shot looking south east through the village.

The car approaches the bridge over the River Misbourne on Village Road, Denham.

Antony Blair captures the location with Miss Marples' cottage in the left background.

Professor Benbow, Lady Cotton and Holly set off in pursuit. Another matted view of Le Talbooth in the Dedham Vale. The present property dates from the 19th century but a building has stood on the site since the 16th century.

Nothing matted in this shot. (RL)

The car turns onto the main road as Saturday and Quentin follow in a bus. Facing Lower Street from the driveway of Le Talbooth.

And nearly 70 years on. (RL)

The chase continues along Village Road in Denham.

The hedge has grown a little in Antony Blair's shot.

The high class criminal drives through a ford before turning off the road and demanding that Joanna hands over a jewelled glove. Hawkswood Lane about halfway between Pinewood Studios and Fulmer in Buckinghamshire. The location was seen in 'Take a Chance', 'The Ballad of Tam Lin', 'The Final Test', 'Don't Talk to Strange Men' and 'Genevieve'.

The same location with the Alder Bourne still flowing across the road. (PW)

Escaping from Williams, Benbow (Rona Anderson) heads towards the bus driven by Saturday. The Alder Bourne ford on Hawkswood Lane.

More road and less water when I visited. (PW)

Saturday Keith (Derek Bond) is reunited with Joanna. The Alder Bourne crossing Hawkswood Lane south of Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire.

And once again. (PW)

Higgins turns his motorcycle after being stopped for speeding by PC Windle. Looking east, towards the wall of St Mary's church yard on Village Road in Denham.

Antony faced the church from a similar position.