House of Whipcord

After meeting Mark E. DeSade at a trendy gathering in a London art gallery, French model Anne-Marie DeVernet is driven home by the enigmatic young man. Instant identification from Dave W, Lenthall House on the Churchill Gardens Estate, Claverton Street in SW1. Other views of the estate appear in 'Genevieve', 'The System', 'The Big Chance', 'Three Hats for Lisa', 'All the Right Noises' and 'Street Corner'. (RL)

And Dave provides the "now" showing that parking is now a little more organised. (RL)

The following weekend, DeSade drives Anne-Marie to meet his mother.

Julian Manhood found this location on the A48 in a tiny village called Stroat near Chepstow.

The naïve young woman is unnerved as the silent DeSade speeds through rural villages. Looking southward on High Street in Aylburton, Gloucestershire.

Taken by Julian Manhood, this is Aylburton now, looking towards Chepstow.

Tyres squeal as a corner is taken. The corner of Chapel Hill and High Street in Aylburton with the wall of the Cross Inn to the right. (Screen capture by JM)

The corner by the Cross Inn on Chapel Hill captured by Julian Manhood.

DeSade turns from the main road outside fictional Penlaunce and heads towards their destination. This is the driveway of Littledean Jail on Church Street in Littledean, Gloucestershire.

Julian found the road to Littledean Jail a little wider today.

The gates of the walled edifice are opened when DeSade sounds the Aston Martin's horn. The gates of the former Littledean Gaol in the Forest of Dean.

The gates were open wide when Julian Manhood visited!

Coming to a stand inside the gates of the imposing building, Mark E. DeSade (Robert Tayman) gets out of the driving seat to open Anne-Marie's door. Since 2003 the former Littledean Jail has housed a crime museum.

Julian captures the same wall.

Anne-Marie DeVernet (Penny Irving) watches as DeSade drives away, leaving her in the courtyard of the prison. Littledean Jail off Church Street in Littledean.

The prison courtyard taken by Julian.

The sound of bolts being drawn back is heard before Warden Bates (Dorothy Gordon) appears from behind a heavy door. The courtyard of the former Littledean Jail.

I wonder why? Image from Julian.

Anne-Marie is introduced to Margaret Wakehurst and Justice Bailey and is horrified to discover that there is no escape from the prison. The Grade II* listed Littledean Jail was completed in 1791.

Julia (Ann Michelle) leaves a Police Station after becoming concerned about her flatmate Anne-Marie. Closed in 1993, this is the Police Station on Rochester Row in SW1 with the corner of Vane Street to the extreme left.

The same frontage captured by Julian Manhood.

Making a bid to escape, Anne-Marie attacks Margaret Wakehurst (Barbara Markham) as she looks through the gateway. Littledean Jail closed as a house of correction in 1854 to become a Police Station and also saw use as a Magistrates Court, as headquarters for Gloucestershire’s mounted police and a barracks.

Julian Manhood provides this more up to date view.

Anne-Marie is brought back to the prison by Jack Kind, an unsuspecting Lorry Driver who she seeks help from in a muddy lay-by. The Police Station at the former prison closed 1972 and the last court session sat during October 1985 before the building was sold to become an archive store and disaster recovery site.

Julian found a bit more tree cover since filming took place in June 1973.

Jack (Ivor Salter) hands the exhausted Anne-Marie over to Warden Walker (Sheila Keith). The gates to Littledean Jail in the Forest of Dean.

Taking a break at a transport café, Jack recognises Anne-Marie in a newspaper article and phones the tabloid to get her details. The Half Acre Cafe stands on the A48 at the junction of the road to Purton to the north-east of Lydney in Gloucestershire. The building was given a pitched roof and became known as The Willows.

Julian originally found this location on a truckers' website; it was also a bed and breakfast a few years ago.

News of Anne-Marie reaches Julia and the anxious friend heads to Penlaunce by train. Lydney railway station where Station Road becomes Harbour Road to the south of the town.

The signal box at Lydney station has sadly disappeared since Julian last visited a few years ago.

Julia crosses the railway and leaves the station to search for the old building described by Jack. Looking towards Harbour Road from the northbound platform at Lydney railway station in Gloucestershire.

Waiting for a train that was fast approaching when he arrived, Julian successfully captured the location.

Alarmed by a phone call from his girlfriend Julia, Tony (Ray Brooks) heads for Penlaunce. Grosvenor Lodge on Claverton Street in London SW1. Yes, we can see the Grosvenor Road address on the window but the building entrance stands in Claverton Street.

Julian Manhood supplies the proof.

Arriving in the village, Tony asks a Local if he knows of a walled clinic in the area. Broad Street at the junction of a road realignment in Littledean, Gloucestershire.

The same location captured by Richard Winchester who updates us with the news that the Littledean Guest House to the left is now styled as the Littledean House Hotel and the Shell Garage has become a second hand car dealership.

Tony makes his way to a small shop where the Proprietor tells him about a woman in a grey uniform who comes in once a week for supplies. Outside the Littledean Guest House on Broad Street in Littledean.

There are some alterations to the buildings on the left in Richard Winchester's view but it appears that Rachel is walking on what was the original pavement.

After the police are alerted and raid the prison, Justice Bailey (Patrick Barr) is helped into an ambulance while the Warden's are taken into custody and their victims rescued. The former jail, Police Station and Magistrates Court on Church Street in Littledean, Gloucestershire.

Sean K-S provides this ground level view from the best angle possible.