Nothing Venture

An Author (Patric Curwen) begins to write a tale "It was a lovely day in June when three boys . . . . ." This is the rear of 33 Clayton Road in Selsey, Sussex.

The house is not so easy to reach now as it was for Tom, Dick and Harry due to the large concrete sea defences added in the early 1950s. (SD)

As the words flow from the Author’s pen, the three young characters from the evolving story arrive on his lawn.

Nature has taken over the lawn and PVC has taken over the windows and doors. (SD)

Dick (Phillip Artemus), Tom (Peter Artemus) and Harry (Jackie Artemus) approach the Author "We heard you were writing a new book and thought you'd like to include us in it again". Looking towards the English Channel from the coastal property on Clayton Road, Selsey.

Selsey West Beach and the English Channel viewed from in front of the garden gate, (SD)

The ‘Nothing Venture’ begins with the boys cycling through a small Sussex town. Facing southward on High Street in Selsey, Sussex.

The antique shop on the left has now been replaced by a pharmacy and the large building on the right replaced by a car dealership. (SD)

Having been given a watch and binoculars, Tom, Dick and Harry head towards a tower that the Author pointed out on a map. Church Lane, Sidlesham in Sussex.

Now, with very few changes. (SD)

A corner is turned and the ride continues past The Anchor Inn at the junction of Church Lane and Selsey Road in Sidlesham.

Now with barriers to protect against the traffic on this busy road. (SD)

The shot pans with the young pals. The sign on the front of The Anchor appears to read Henty & Constable, which was a brewery in Chichester.

Henty & Constable ceased trading in 1955 and was bought out by Watney's. (SD)

Looking southward on Selsey Road in Sidlesham, now in West Sussex, with the corner of Rotten Row on the right.

In this direction, the boys are heading back towards Selsey. (SD)

In the next village a church clock strikes a quarter to the hour. The spire of St. Michael and All Angels church in Lyndhurst, Hampshire.

In the churchyard is the grave of Alice Hargreaves (nee Liddell) the inspiration for "Alice" in Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland". (SD)

The shot tilts to find the cyclists. Facing east on High Street in Lyndhurst with The Crown Hotel to the left.

The boys would now find themselves cycling the wrong way into the oncoming traffic. (SD)

The shot cuts to find the lads coming to a halt outside the lych gate of a church where Tom suggests that they look at the map before going on. The lych gate of St Michael and All Angels, Old London Road, Mickleham in Surrey. (SD)

The lych gate now. (SD)

The three adventurers carry on up a hill in the hope of spotting the tower that the Author mentioned.

At the top of the hill Tom, Dick and Harry scan the horizon. That appears to be a railway viaduct to the bottom right. Jonathan Horswell tells us that an almost identical shot appears in 'Scream and Scream Again' as a pan from our capture 8 in that film. Thereby, this is looking down on Dorking from Box Hill into the Mole Valley. (RL)

Seen from the Salomons Memorial viewpoint. The railway viaduct over the River Mole is still in use but now barely visible behind the trees. (SD)

The boys speed away after spotting the tower through the binoculars. This is Zig Zag Road, Box Hill, near Dorking, Surrey. Also seen in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', 'Casino Royale' from 1967, 'Catacombs' and 'One Exciting Night' and recognised by SD.

That small tree is now a very large tree! (SD)

Overhearing crooks George and Charlie talking about their Boss arriving on the Queen Mary, Dick and Harry make for the tower while Tom keeps an eye on the road below. Leith Hill Tower on Leith Hill to the south west of Dorking in Surrey.

The top of Leith Hill Tower is the highest point in south east England. (SD)

Michael Garrod (Michael Aldridge) brings Diana Chaice (Terry Randall) home after the boys meet them in the woods following the young lady's fall from a horse.

Terry's father, Professor Chaice (Wilfrid Caithness), signals to Tom, Dick and Harry as they leave the house.

Revealed to be a Detective, Michael takes the boys to Southampton in pursuit of the crooks. To the bottom right are the steps up to the quayside at the southern end of Southampton Harbour’s Ocean Dock with Shed 40, so numbered at the time, in the background.

As the Queen Mary docks after a long voyage, the boys position themselves to await the Boss's arrival. The northernmost Ocean Dock Cargo & Passenger Shed at Southampton with the funnels of RMS Queen Mary visible above the roof line. Opening in 1950, the Ocean Terminal was to occupy this site just a few years later.

The northernmost Ocean Dock Cargo & Passenger Shed adjacent to White Star Road on the left with Shed 40 in the left distance.

Michael looks up at the liner as lines are thrown to the shore. This appears to be facing the Ocean Dock from the north. Nick Boorman advises that the Queen Mary is seen here fitted with degaussing strips that were used against magnetic mines during the Second World War adding that the ship was demobilised from war time service on 29th September 1946 with the strips being removed by April 1947.

Dick climbs into the boot of the crooks' car before they drive away after George meets the Boss. Cunard Road with the Ocean Dock in the background.

The camera follows the car through the docks. Cunard Road with the Harland & Wolff engineering works to the right and a ship in Trafalgar Dry Dock in the background.

As Dick listens to their conversation from the car's boot, the crooks begin an hour long journey. The Custom House dating from 1902 to the east of Dock Gate No. 2 on Platform Road opposite Queen’s Park. The gate was renamed No. 4 in 1968 when the Custom House was demolished. Portcullis House now occupies the site.

When the Boss is dropped off near a road-house, Tom takes the opportunity to open the boot to see where he is. Facing Northerwood Cottage at the corner of the road to Emery Down and, what is now, Northerwood Avenue at Swan Green in Lyndhurst, Hampshire.

Now without the two large cedars which stood either side of the cottage. (SD)

Three chimneys of a thatched cottage are noticed. Northerwood Cottage, since renamed to Beehive Cottage, at Swan Green to the west of Lyndhurst.

Now with a more decorative thatch. (SD)

The car continues on it's way. Swan Green Cottages at Swan Green, Lyndhurst.

Now slightly obscured by the hedge. (SD)

The Sir John Barleycorn public house is passed on Southampton Road in Cadnam, Hampshire.

The Sir John Barleycorn is currently closed. (SD)

The Sir John Barleycorn stands at what was the junction of Southampton Road, the road to Wittensford and Old Romsey Road on the edge of Cadnam.

Viewed from where this old section of Southampton Road ends with trees and bushes. (SD)

George pulls into a petrol station to get fuel.

The crook asks for four gallons before going to make a phone call, giving Tom a chance to open the car's boot.

The Pump Attendant spots Dick as he climbs from the car and runs away, back along the road.

After Tom explains what he saw on his journey, it isn't long before he and Dick find one of the landmarks. Northerwood Cottage at Swan Green, Lyndhurst.

Now with a fence around the field which has horses in it. (SD)

The two friends approach the road-house where the Boss is staying. Neil Rigby identifies this as Oatlands Park Hotel, Oatlands, Weybridge KT13 9HB. (RL)

A car park addition and less trees revel more of the building as Nick Boorman found.

The pair spot Harry as he runs towards the hotel. Oatlands Park Hotel, Oatlands, Weybridge in Surrey located by Neil Rigby. (RL)

John Harwood found a similarly shady tree fronting the hotel. (SJ)

Harry skirts around the building before being caught by the Hotel Porter at the front door. Neil Rigby identifies this as Oatlands Park Hotel, Oatlands in Weybridge. (RL)

Nick Boorman captured the location some 70 years later.

Having been given a job as a page-boy, Harry signals to Tom and Dick from one of the hotel's upper windows. Neil Rigby found the Oatlands Park Hotel in Weybridge. (RL)

No-one at the window for John H. today. (SJ)

After clues are gathered at the hotel, back at the Chaice's house the Professor approaches Tom as he repairs a puncture.

Preparing for a race at Ascot, Michael helps Diana the Trainer to load Sunstroke into a horsebox.

Sunstroke is driven to the racecourse, as Tom and Harry ride on ahead.

The horsebox is diverted from the main road before being hijacked by crooks George and Charlie.

Having repaired his tyre, Dick cycles hard to catch up and comes across the hijacking.

Dick follows the horsebox as the crooks drive towards the tower.

Passing through a town, Dick looks back after passing through the closing gates of a level crossing. Located by Stephen Dean this is looking towards the level crossing on Station Road, Addlestone in Surrey, with Victory Park Road on the left.

Replacing SD's earlier Google captures, Nick Boorman took this original view of the location which shows that some of the buildings on the right have been demolished.

The horsebox comes to a halt at the gates as a goods train thunders past. Facing east on Station Road, Addlestone located by Stephen Dean.

Another original from Nick in which there is little change to the background buildings.

Back out in the countryside, Dick cycles onward and manages to climb a tree before dropping onto the roof of the stolen horsebox.

Pyrford Lock on the River Wey, near Woking, Surrey. Update- This bridge appeared three years earlier in 'They Were Sisters' and doesn't quite match the bridge from 'Nothing 'Venture.' so I now have doubts this is the correct location. (SD)

Diana is kidnapped and held at the tower before Charlie drives on to the course where Tom and Harry watch a race as they wait for Michael to arrive after an important meeting in London.

A car drops Michael off outside the racecourse. High Street in Ascot, Berkshire. The grandstand in the background was replaced by the Queen Elizabeth II Stand.

Extra windows, and the new stand just visible in the background. (SR)

Tic-Tac Men signal the odds as jockeys bring their mounts under control ready for the race that Sunstroke is running in.

After watching Sunstroke win, Michael searches for the boys. Peter Brown tells us that whilst Captures 48 and 49 are Ascot this and Capture 51 switches to Hurst Park, Molesey, Surrey, that closed in 1962. This is evidenced by the distinctive fascia of the stand (similar to the one at Kempton Park) and the chimneys of the waterworks across the river. (RL)

Michael spots Dick and Harry and asks them where Diana is. See Capture 50 (RL)

While Michael looks Sunstroke's Trainer, Dick and Harry find the horsebox.

Michael and the boys search for clues that might lead them to find Diana before Harry spots something.