There Was a Young Lady

The opening scene sets the location as London with a 1950s view along Brompton Road in Knightsbridge SW1.

There was a brief pause in the traffic to be in the middle of the road. SJ

David Walsh (Michael Denison) talks business with a Colleague (unknown actor). Brompton Road, London SW3 looking north east. The doorway and premises on the extreme left, No 154 remains, but thereafter, dreaded re-development. (RL)

I took a few paces back to show the other matching doorway, equally intact. SJ

Meeting over, David walks to his office. Facing the corner of Kingsway and Wild Court in WC2 with the entrance to Kingsway Hall in the right background. A rooftop view of the location appears in 'The Scarlet Web'. (PW)

This replaces my scaffolding-bedecked shot from April '22. SJ

The "Young Lady", Elizabeth Foster (Dulcie Gray) leaves David's office. Kingsway with Wild Court in the right background. (PW)

As above. Looking north. SJ

Muttering to herself whilst walking, Elizabeth is oblivious to her surroundings. Brompton Road, looking towards Harrods and Brompton Place off. (RL)

Redevelopment vs traditional is about 50/50. SJ

Meanwhile a team of "smash and grab" thieves arrive in their car. Looking across Brompton Road, London SW3 with the junction of Ovington Gardens far left and going off screen. (RL)

This section of Brompton Road matches nicely with yesteryear. SJ

The thieves get out of the car leaving the door open for Elizabeth to walk into. Brompton Road, London SW3 looking across to the junction with Beauchamp Place right of top dead centre. (RL)

Not sure why I'm leaning over but the corner matches. SJ

The police are onto the thieves. Brompton Road looking towards Knightsbridge from opposite Knightsbridge Green. The location can also be seen in 'Say Hello to Yesterday', 'The Good Beginning', 'Game for Three Losers' and 'The Romance of London'. (RL)

Taken from my 125 in the customary jam heading east. SJ

Ignoring the red light, the thieves' car tears past traffic signals. Fulham Road, London SW7 looking towards the junction with Neville Street. (RL)

Looking north-east. SJ

Racing through London streets, the thieves continue their getaway. Brompton Road, London SW3 looking towards the Brompton Oratory. (RL)

Unchanged today. SJ

The thieves change of car is no longer an option as Arthur (Charles Farrell) is being questioned by a Policeman . . . This is Eaton Square and Elisabeth Street in SW1 (SJ)

And proof a little later. SJ

A lone police car is in hot pursuit . . . Ray and Ron Glenister spot Brompton Road, looking NNE at the corner of 1 Egerton Terrace, exactly the same location appears in 'Madame Louise' with the distinctive Bunch of Grapes public house on the corner of Yeoman's Row. (RL)

And I remembered to take the 'Madame Louise' one on the same visit for once. SJ

. . . trying to catch the thieves. Dave W remembers that wall from his school days Brompton Road SW3 with the decorative brickwork of Mortimer House, Egerton Gardens. (RL)

Some works are going on at Mortimer House. Taken from the east end of South Terrace. SJ

With Elizabeth inside the car, the thieves look for an escape route . . . Eccleston Street, London SW1 with the trees of Eaton Square. (RL)

Now SJ

. . . . turning into this mews to hide from the police. Entering Eaton Mews South from the NE side of Eccleston Street, London SW1 (RL)

Now again. SJ

The police car speeds along the street, missing the mews. This is Eccleston Street SW1 with the trees of Eaton Square in the background. (PW)

Pity about the refurbishment. I forgot this one at first, but was able to return on a cloudier day. SJ

Having covered the registration plate, the thieves re-emerge from the mews. Looking from Eccleston Street into Eaton Mews South. The mews also feature in 'Circle of Danger'. (PW)

Now. SJ

The police car pulls over to report that they have lost the thieves. Eastern side of Eaton Square, London SW1 (RL)

Today. SJ

Meanwhile the thieves in the disguised car continue their getaway. Eccleston Street, London SW1 looking towards the eastern side of Eaton Square. (RL)

Now. SJ

Eventually, the thieves arrive at this country home with Elizabeth. Geoff Dodd identifies this as Ockwells Manor near Maidenhead, Berkshire. The fascinating and abounding history of this property can be read at https://houseandheritage.org/2019/08/22/ockwells-manor/. (RL)

Joe (Bill Owen), one of the thieves, walks towards the house's gates . . . Geoff identifies the gates as those of Ockwells Manor near Maidenhead.

. . . . before Elizabeth is escorted into the property by the thieves' boss, Johnny (Sydney Tafler). Ockwells Manor near Maidenhead located by Geoff Dodd. (RL)

Back in London. The entrance to Westminster Hall, Westminster SW1.

With my tongue firmly in my cheek. A Reelstreets scaffolding overkill to outdo all our other frustrated attempts at comparison at the wrong time. SJ

The thieves head out to carry out another smash and grab raid. Cavendish Square looking east into Cavendish Place, London W1. (RL)

Some added pavement. SJ

First on the thieves list is this jewellers.

The thieves pull up in their car outside the shop. Kensington High Street, London W8 at the junction with Allen Street. (RL)

Scaffolding follows me around! SJ

Approaching Armstrong Jewellers are David and his friend Charlie, Duke of Chiddingford (Bill Shine). Despite 10,000 miles separating Dave from from Ray and Ron they all come up with a simultaneous identification, looking west along Wigmore Street W1 with the car having just turned into Duke Street. (RL)

Only a couple of background buildings match now. SJ

David and Charlie look in the window of the jewellers.

Frustrated by the efforts of his gang, Johnny swaps places with Joe. Cavendish Square, London W1 looking towards the junction with Chandos Street. (RL)

A bright red no12 is today's scene. SJ

Johnny and the gang arrive at the next jewellers. Another from Dave, Sloane Street SW3 with Knightsbridge in the distance. (RL)

Carl Blair took this view of the same scene today.