Mine and the Minotaur, The (Children’s Film Foundation)

Singing "Don't Dilly Dally on the Way" as they travel through the Cornish countryside, Gary and Sandra look out of the window of their dad’s black taxi.

Taking his family on a camping break, Joe Barnett steers his London cab along the narrow roads looking for a suitable camping site. This is the road through Castallack to Lamorna, just south of Sheffield with the lane leading to Halwyn on the left.

Just off the B3315 and heading south towards Castallack Lionel and Cynthia Sear managed this shot for us. (RL)

The leisurely drive along country lanes continues. The hamlet of Castallack in Cornwall.

Before long, a red sports car catches up with the taxi. This is the road into Lamorna from Castallack.

At a double bend, the Barnetts are nearly run off the road by the speeding car. A reverse point of view to the previous image of the road into Lamorna.

Driven by former Grand Prix champion Gerry Gallagher, the Maserati Merak continues at top speed along the coast road. This is Levant Road near Trewellard with the chimneys of Levant Tin Mine to the left and Pendeen Lighthouse in the right of centre distance. Another Children’s Film Foundation production ‘Haunters of the Deep’ also used the location which also features in 1944's 'Love Story'.

Looking North east across the Levant Mine Sett, Lionel and Cynthia tell us that this is the compressor house to the Levant Mine built in 1901. (RL)

A little further along the road, Jake (Adam Rhodes) rides his bike towards the cottage where he is staying with his Mother and brother.

With the car's tyres throwing up dust, the reckless driver hardly slows to take blind corners.

Another corner is taken at speed.

Julia Driscoll (Felicity Harrison) and her son Dan (William Booker) rush from the house when when they hear Jake crash into the side of the lane when he's forced off the road by the sports car. The sign by the gate reads Quoit Cottage.

Without stopping, the Maserati Merak races away.

Realising that he's gone the wrong way, Gerry turns around.

Julia, Jake and Dan approach Gerry when he stops in the lane outside their cottage to ask directions.

Getting into the car, the boys direct Gerry to the Penhallack Pottery.

The two make their way inside the pottery where they are sent away by Gerry as he speaks with Graham and Sheila Tarrant.

Having met up with Gary (Christopher Hare) and Sandra Barnett (Elaine Lordan) when their Dad asks the way to a campsite, Jake and Dan take the Londoners for a walk to fly their kite. Lanyon Quoit Standing Stones to the north-west of Penzance on the road to Morvah.

In a remote spot between Madron and Morvah this is the Lanyon Quoit. Not authentic as it collapsed and was re-assembled incorrectly in the 1800's. A friendly local informed Lionel and Cynthia that he had been there very early in the morning and found a fellow filming a naked lady draped over the stones! Hmmm, their ReelStreets wanderings seem always to take them to nudity!

Joe (Charles Cork) and Anne Barnett (Janette Legge) settle their kids down for the night.

Getting into the black cab, the couple head for the pub.

Joe turns onto the main road as Gerry follows Graham and Sheila's Volkswagen camper van in the opposite direction. Looking north at the junction for Mousehole and Castallack on the B3315 south of Penzance with the village of Sheffield in the distance.

Yes, Lionel and Cynthia confirm, on the B3315 just south-west of Sheffield and looking back to that village on the junction with the road to Castallack. (RL)

Looking from his bedroom window, Dan sees the VW pass along the lane towards the site where the Bennett's are camped.

Gerry Gallagher (Jay Benedict) follows Graham and Sheila towards a disused mine. The engine house of the Towanroath Shaft at Wheal Coates tin mine in Cornwall.

Lionel and Cynthia took a break in the weather to look down on the engine house at Towanroath Shaft. (RL)

Gary leads his sister Sandra and the Driscoll brothers to the mine that he saw Gerry enter on the previous evening. Wheal Coates mine closed in 1914 and was Grade II listed in 1988. The location also appears in ‘Doomwatch’.

Down at Towanroath Shaft Lionel and Cynthia captured this comparative shot for us. (RL)

The boys make their way into the mine and decide to return later with Wellington boots and torches.

After Gary falls into a hidden chamber, Graham rescues him and the children return to the surface. Above the Towanroath Shaft at Wheal Coates near St. Agnes.

Just to the east of the Wheal Coates sett Lionel and Cynthia reveal the terrain that they risk for ReelStreets. (RL)

As they walk back to the campsite, Gary explains to the others that he saw a small golden statue in the mine before Joe spots his injured son.

Graham (James Hazeldine) and Sheila Tarrant (Mary Larkin) wonder if they've done enough to scare the children away from the mine. The disused tin mine at Wheal Coates in Cornwall.

Lionel and Cynthia successfully made it to the the engine House at Wheal Coates. (RL)

While the children return to the mine, two Policemen arrive and explain to Joe and Anne that the family must leave the unauthorised site.

Jake and Dan wave as their new friends leave the illegal site.

Back in London, Gary and Sandra run towards the library to learn more about the half man, half bull statue seen in the mine. Kensington Central Library on Phillimore Walk W8.

Some safety? railing surrounds the ground brickwork, otherwise unchanged. This is known as Jubilee Square with the town hall on the left and library to the right. Also seen in "Not Tonight Darling." SJ

The camera follows the siblings as they enter the building. The entrance to Kensington Central Library in London W8.

Panning right and to the south: more effort to jump over the wall now. SJ

Carrying a book about the Minotaur, Gary and Sandra make their way to find Jake and Dan. Outside number 3 Holland Park in London W11.

The same house was seen years later in "Plenty." SJ

Finding no one at home, the two make their way to the British Museum. Great Russell Street in WC1 with the British Museum to the right.

The crossing is still there but perhaps in need of a lick of paint. SJ

Inside the museum, Dan and Sandra ask to speak with Dr. Weekes. Facing the entrance of the British Museum on Great Russell Street. The museum also features in other productions including ‘A Touch of Love’, 'The Day of the Jackal', 'The Limehouse Golem', ‘Night of the Demon’, ‘Percy’, 'Colonel March Investigates', ‘Gumshoe’, ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, ‘To the Devil a Daughter’ and ‘It Happened Here’ amongst many more.

A busy day for the British Museum. SJ

After seeing a news report about the arrest of Gerry Gallagher in connection with the theft of a four thousand year old statue of a Minotaur, Gary and Sandra pass their Dad as they go to find Jake and Dan.

Meeting up with their pals, Gary tells Jake that he reckons there are two Minotaurs. The Iris Garden in Holland Park W14 with the Ice House in the centre background. The fountain to the right was replaced in 1999.

And here's the replacement fountain. SJ

The four friends wonder what the statue is doing in Cornwall. Facing the Orangery in Holland Park. Other aspects of the park feature in ‘Every Home Should Have One’, 'Only When I Larf', 'Full Circle', 'The Big Sleep', 'Sweeney!' and 'Who Dares Wins'.

Looking south. SJ

The children make their way out of the park. Looking into Holland Park through the Holland Park entrance in W11.

A lot more growth inside the entrance. SJ

Jake notices the potters' camper van outside the house as the Tarrants deliver urns to his Mum. The entrance to Holland Park on Holland Park, Kensington.

A different lens depth makes the tree appear closer. SJ

As the Volkswagen drives off, Jake tells the others that he'll follow them on his bike. Holland Park in W11.

The trees really were helpful here. Note that all residences now have staircase canopies and stone bottle balustrades, many of which had to be reconstituted. SJ

The camper arrives on Portobello Road. Portobello Road in London W11.

Alterations to window are apparent on the right. (PW)

Sheila Tarrant opens the side door of the van before picking up a vase and passing it to her husband who carefully carries it into an antique shop. Portobello Road with buildings on Lonsdale Road filling the background. Various lengths of Portobello Road make an appearance in a number of productions including ‘Otley’, ‘Notting Hill’, ‘Pressure’, ‘The Wind of Change’, ‘Breaking Glass’, 'Seven Green Bottles', ‘West 11’, ‘The Moon Over the Alley’, 'Don't Open till Christmas', 'Bullet to Beijing', ‘Tonite Let's All Make Love in London’, ‘Mantrap’, ‘The File of the Golden Goose’, ‘The Italian Job’, ‘Villain’, ‘Who Done It?’, ‘The Gentle Trap’ and ‘The Traitors’.

A clearer view along the street. (PW)

After catching up with the Tarrants, Jake phones to tell his brother that he saw the golden Minotaur when the antique shop Owner lifted up the vase. The call box stands at the corner of Portobello Road and Lonsdale Road.

Still standing at the corner, the telephone kiosk has been slightly re-positioned. (PW)

Borrowing Dan's bike, Gary arrives on Portobello Road where Jake tells him to get help. Portobello Road W14 with the corner of Lonsdale Road in the centre distance.

Taken from a similar viewpoint. (PW)

Advised by the antique shop Owner to take the Minotaur to an address on Bond Street, Graham and Sheila drive away followed by Jake. Looking south from the junction of Davies Street and Mount Street in the northern corner of Berkeley Square W1.

Simon Edwards found that the road layout has changed since the capture where the pavement to the left has been extensively extended such that the location of the camper van in the capture would be driving in the wrong direction, with the change to the road/pavement layout at this junction. (RL)

As Gary contacts Dr. Weekes, Jake keeps up with the camper van. Facing west from the junction of New Bond Street and Brook Street W1 with the trees of Grosvenor Square in the distance.

This comparative shot from Simon shows that the postbox has been relocated from the left hand side (south side) of Brook St to the right hand side (north side) of Brook St. The store to the left of the capture is now a Victoria's Secret's store. (RL)

The shot follows Jake around the corner. Bond Street in London W1.

As a pedestrian Simon wasn't troubled but as a driver he would have to note that the road layout is a single file of traffic now, with parking only permitted between 18.30hrs to 8.30hrs the next day. Loading is allowed for a short time for the stores outside of those hours ie. during the working day. (RL)

At their destination, Graham pulls over before Sheila catches sight of Jake behind. Facing Sotheby’s Auction House on New Bond Street in Mayfair W1. The list of films that New Bond Street appears in includes ‘Nothing But the Best’, 'Time is My Enemy', ‘Octopussy’, ‘Absolute Beginners’, ‘Help!’, 'Crooks Anonymous', ‘Just My Luck’, ‘Baby Love’, ‘Joanna’, ‘The Lady is a Square’, ‘Appointment with Crime’, ‘The Stud’, ‘I Don’t Want to be Born’ and of course ‘Bond Street’.

Simon provides this up to date picture of Sotheby's auction house on New Bond St. In the capture there was a tobacconists and sweet shop below the arch in the centre of the Sotheby's building, but this has been removed now. In fact it was removed many years ago. (RL)

When Sheila tells her husband that they are being tailed by one of the kids from the mine, the two drive off to return to Cornwall. Looking east on Talgarth Road at the corner of Wilson’s Road in Hammersmith W6.

The building to the right is still there. SJ

The camera pans as Jake rides past. Talgarth Road with the eastern approach to Hammersmith Flyover and the Cunard International Hotel to the left.

Antony Blair captured the same location 43 years later, with the Novotel taking centre stage.

Losing the Volkswagen as it speeds up, Jake phones home. Queen Caroline Street in W6 with Beatrice House and College Court to the left and Hammersmith Flyover in the distance.

Whether or not the telephone booth was a prop we only have a litter bin now. (RL)

Alerted to the escaping crooks, Cornish Police spot the Volkswagen pass a parked Cortina.

Watched by Officers in the parked police car, Graham Tarrant stops the camper to make a phone call.

A police launch is dispatched to Lamorna Cove. The Lighthouse at the end of the harbour’s South Pier in Newlyn, Cornwall.

As dawn breaks, Graham and Sheila arrive at the quayside where a boat is waiting. The quay at Lamorna Cove in Cornwall with Tregurnow Cliff rising on the right.

Police arrive at the small harbour followed by Gary and Sandra, Dr. Weekes, the Driscolls, Detective Sergeant Granger and Detective Constable Swanton who have driven through the night from London. The quay and slipway at Lamorna Cove in Cornwall with the Lamorna Valley heading off into the right distance.

Lamorna Cove today. (SR)

The fishing boat carrying the Tarrants and their treasure sets out to sea. The quay at Lamorna Cove with Carn Du in the right distance.

As the police launch cuts off their escape, the criminals return to the quayside. The quay at Lamorna Cove in Cornwall.