Feather Your Nest

Willie Piper (George Formby) and Mary Taylor (Polly Ward) arrive outside the Fox & Hare public house. Looks very much like a studio set.

On a building site, Willie and Mary outside their newly completed house. Although under construction almost 85 years ago, Antony Blair discovered Oakington Avenue, Hayes in Middlesex.

Antony tells us that 'The Nest' is actually number 25 in the cul-de-sac.

The two enter their unfinished garden. Outside number 25 Oakington Avenue in Hayes located by Antony.

From the footpath, Antony took this view looking across to numbers 31 and 60.

Willie and Mary cross the garden in this capture added to help identify this location. Antony Blair identifies this as the southern end of Oakington Avenue in Hayes.

Antony captured 29 and 31 Oakington Avenue as they appear now.

Reaching the front door, Willie and Mary pause to admire their new home. The newly constructed numbers 25 and 27 Oakington Avenue found by Antony.

From a suitable distance, a wider shot of the semi detached homes by Antony.

Looking out of their bedroom window the pair comment on the view. This is the view of the gas holder at Southall gas works beyond properties on Balfour Road and Clarence Road as seen from Scotts Road in Southall, Middlesex. (PW)

Antony Blair found that the gasometer and chimney stacks have since disappeared.

Willie comes home from work and approaches his new nest. Antony Blair advises that this is looking from the southern end of Oakington Avenue with Rutland Road to the right.

The same location without George, taken by Antony.

Wondering what is being delivered, Willie rushes towards the front door. Facing number 25 Oakington Avenue in Hayes, Middlesex located by Antony Blair.

A wider view of the property taken by Antony.

Willie leaves Fortners the local furniture store. A studio set?

Outside the Monarch Gramophone Company's factory, Willie stops his boss and promptly gets arrested. Dave W is quick off the mark and tells us that this is just inside the vehicle entrance to Ealing Studios at Ealing Green W5. Note the fully opened gate doesn't have the "MGC Factory" prop board seen in capture 24. (RL)

Antony Blair provides this shot of the studio entrance.

Mary, having distracted the local policeman outside the police station, climbs in through the window. Possibly a studio set.

Having aided her fiancé's escape, Mary and Willie flee on a motorcycle. Pitshanger Lane in Ealing W5 looking towards the junction with Selby Road. Linda Jordan advises that her late Grandfather, Frederick Thomas Fairthorne, was living with his wife and six sons at 16 Pitshanger Lane when filming took place and whilst tinkering with his motorbike outside his house one day, a man approached and asked him if he'd like to earn 'a few bob'. Linda isn't sure if he used his own bike, or how much he was paid, but he was the stand-in for George Formby in this sequence with a male extra as his pillion passenger.

Antony Blair visited the same section of Pitshanger Lane.

Speeding off on their motorbike along the street . . . Pitshanger Lane, Ealing, looking towards the junction with Selby Road. (RL)

Facing the same way, Antony took this view.

. . . narrowly missing oncoming lorries . . . This is Pitshanger Lane at the junction with Barnfield Road looking east to St. Barnabas Church found by Dave W who thinks that someone should tell George he is going the wrong way compared with the previous and subsequent captures. (RL)

The same junction, visited by Antony Blair.

. . . tearing away along what looks like the same street seen earlier . . . Pitshangar Lane, Ealing W5 looking towards the junction with Harrow View Road. (RL)

Antony went to the location soon after it was identified.

. . . turning right onto another road, they continue to head for the Monarch factory . . . Curzon Road, Ealing W5.

Extensions are apparent to the right in Antony's image.

. . . winding their way through the suburbs . . . Antony Blair tells us that this is looking north on Drayton Green at the junction with Drayton Bridge Road, Lynton Avenue and Courtfield Gardens in W13.

The same suburban road from Antony Blair.

. . . and heading towards yet another lorry! The street name sign behind the lorry Dave W. declares is Woodbury Park Road so this is Scotch Common looking at Pitshanger Lane with Kent Gardens on the right which seems an odd route to Ealing Green but that's what happens when you use a little stick of Blackpool rock as a satnav. (RL)

Changes to the road layout are apparent in Antony Blair's comparison.

The chase scene continues with more weaving in and out of traffic . . . panning right from Scotch Common. (RL)

Antony provides this shot of the junction.

. . . driving recklessly through the streets . . . Facing Lynton Avenue from Courtfield Gardens in West Ealing located by Antony Blair.

Taken from a similar position by Antony.

. . . that today are likely to see a lot more traffic . . . Antony identifies this as Drayton Bridge Road W13 seen from the junction with Drayton Green, Lynton Avenue and Courtfield Gardens.

And no, Antony found that there's actually less traffic than the one motorbike seen in the screen capture.

. . . avoiding obstacles, or not! . . . Courtfield Gardens at the junction of Drayton Green and Drayton Bridge Road in W13 advises Antony Blair.

Antony's picture shows that guidance is now needed for vehicles at this junction.

. . . until finally slowing down as they start to turn right into the entrance of the gramophone factory. Ealing Green W5 looking north with the Welsh Presbyterian Church to the left of centre Identified by Dave W. Anyone recognise the unusual vehicle? Dave Buckley advises that this is about 30/40 yards or so to camera right of captures 10 and 24. (RL)

Ealing Green now by Antony Blair.

Willie and Mary arrive outside the factory gates. The gated entrance to the main body of Ealing Studios at Ealing Green W5 spotted by Dave W. (RL)

And it's back to the studio . . . . Antony.

Having dodged the security guard on the gates, the two search for the boss. The two Greek pillars at the entrance of Ealing Studios front office on Ealing Green recognised by Dave W. (RL)

The pillars still stand in Antony Blair's modern view.

Mary assists her fallen fiancé out of a flower bed. Turned out nice again at Ealing Studio's front courtyard looking onto Ealing Green. Good to note that the semi circular raised bed in the foreground still exists, ideal for performing an homage backwards pratfall, having obtained permission of course. We have no doubt that Dave W. would ask. (RL)

Proof of the flower bed's existence from Antony, who did not set up the suggested fall.

All is well that ends well, well sort of. Willie drops his newly wedded wife Mary outside their new nest. Antony Blair located this as outside number 25, looking north along Oakington Avenue in Hayes, Middlesex.

Taken from across the road, this modern shot is provided by Antony.