Richard III (1995)

Following the murder of King Henry VI, Richard of Gloucester returns to London. Looking across Lambeth Bridge towards Thames House on Millbank SW1.

Gloucester would have had a slower passage today. (PW)

The Commander-in-Chief’s cavalcade crosses the River Thames towards the new King’s palace. Facing east we see a digitally altered view with the Grade I listed St. Pancras Chambers at the SE1 landing of Lambeth Bridge.

There is a palace across there but it's Lambeth Palace. I considered digitally enhancing this image but cba as they say and settled just for the foreground of Lambeth Bridge taken from the south end of Victoria Gardens.

Sir William Catesby (Tim McInnerny) meets the Queen’s American brother Earl Rivers (Robert Downey Jr.) as he disembarks from a plane. Shoreham Airport at Lancing in West Sussex.

The Duke of Gloucester’s car arrives outside King Edward IV’s palace. The façade of St. Pancras station on Euston Road N1. The station can also be seen in 'Love Among the Ruins', ‘The Servant’, ‘Smashing Time’, ‘The Fourth Protocol’, ‘The Tenth Man’ and ‘Mona Lisa’.

As promised, an improved angle to my effort of August '23, now that conversion from entrance to al fresco dining have ended. SJ

Getting out of his Bentley, Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Ian McKellen) enters the building to join the victory celebrations. The entrance to St. Pancras Chambers at St. Pancras station, currently the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London.

The entrance still gleams but this is now a dining area. SJ

Outside the palace, Chauffeurs pass around cigarettes as Sergeant Richard Ratcliffe (Bill Paterson) spots the car carrying Lord Rivers. Since 2007, the terminus has been known as London St. Pancras International.

Now. SJ

Later that evening, the Duke of Gloucester watches his brother, the Duke of Clarence, taken away to be imprisoned by Brackenbury, Lieutenant of the Tower. The Palace Landing Stage is played by a suitably dressed Lambeth Pier on Albert Embankment in SE1.

This mis-timed shot would have shown the gantry and pier at a better angle at low tide. SJ

Leaving his office after burning Clarance’s pardon, Richard is saluted by a Drill-Sergeant as he marches past with his Platoon. Facing the former Ordnance Store Department on Hopton Road at Royal Arsenal in Woolwich SE18. Scenes for 'Goodnight Mister Tom' were also shot at the former Ministry of Defence establishment.

A sunny day in Woolwich Arsenal. (SR)

Rain begins to pour on George, Duke of Clarence (Nigel Hawthorne) as he exercises at the Tower. Whilst the lower levels of the Tower were filmed in the basement of London’s former County Hall, this is the centre of a disused gasometer.

Ratcliffe leans on the Duke of Gloucester’s car as Children climb over the bonnet. Cheney Road N1 with Weller’s Court to the left. The location was seen in ‘The Ladykillers’, 'Chaplin', 'Nuns on the Run' and 'The Missionary’ and ‘Backbeat’.

A lot of character has been lost forever. SJ

Richard meets with Corporal James Tyrrel (Adrian Dunbar) and his Sergeant (Michael Elphick) to arrange the death of Clarence while the NCO’s Wife (Josie Kidd) serves tea. The roof of Stanley Buildings between Pancras Way and Cheney Road.

After Clarence’s assassination at the hands of Tyrell, Richard and Lady Anne Neville of Lancaster drive to King Edward's coastal retreat. Facing east on Beachy Head Road between Birling Gap and Beachy Head in East Sussex.

Viewed earlier in the day. (SD)

At a Summer House overlooking the sea, Prince Richard of York (Matthew Groom) is pushed along in his pedal car by a Maid. The Colonnade on the promenade below the De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, which also features in 'Mr. Beamish Goes South' and 'Double Confession'.

The Colonnade, without the extra adornments. (SD)

With Archbishop Thomas (Roger Hammond), the Duke of Buckingham (Jim Broadbent), Princess Elizabeth of York (Kate Steavenson-Payne) and his wife Queen Elizabeth (Annette Bening) gathered around, King Edward IV (John Wood) asks Lord Rivers and Prime Minister Lord William Hastings (Jim Carter) to take each other’s hands. The Grade II listed Colonnade Pavilion at Bexhill-on-Sea was built in 1911 to commemorate the Coronation of George V.

No extra adornments on this side either. (SD)

After Richard arrives and announces that his brother George is dead, the ailing King is overcome and asks for his bed. The Grade I listed Royal Pavilion on Pavilion Parade in Brighton, East Sussex. The former Royal residence also features in ‘Penny Points to Paradise’, ‘Ashes and Sand’, 2010’s ‘Brighton Rock’, 'Infamous Conduct' and, in animated form, ‘The Snowman’.

The Royal Pavilion viewed from the Royal Pavilion Gardens. (SD)

Following King Edward’s death, Richard, Lord Protector of the heirs to the throne, plots further deaths. Looking into County Hall from the Westminster Bridge Road entrance in SE1.

Without height (and depth), almost impossible to recreate. SJ

The Royal Train carries Edward of York, Prince of Wales, towards the Capital to be crowned. In the background passes the Bluebell Railway running between Sheffield Park in East Sussex and East Grinsted in West Sussex.

John Harwood reckons that this is at Ketches Bridge on the Bluebell line. (SJ)

As the train nears London, Lord Stanley and Henry, Earl of Richmond, call on the Queen to report the murder of her brother. Sharpthorne Tunnel on the Bluebell Railway identified on the British Railway Movie Database.

John Harwood snapped the interior of the Sharpthorne tunnel from the observation car, adding only infrastructure staff are allowed in the tunnel. (SJ)

Troops line the platform as the Royal Train draws into the station. This is St. Pancras station on Euston Road and the coaches are former London & North Western Railway 3rd class kitchen dining car number 41 dating from 1892 and former Great Northern Railway family saloon number 807 of 1912.

It's all very different now. SJ

The ever faithful James Tyrrel stands on duty nearby. Other views of St. Pancras station can be seen in numerous other productions including ‘Smashing Time’, ‘Still Life’, ‘Mona Lisa’, ‘Shirley Valentine’ and ‘Chaplin’.

Even the shed roof has undergone refurbishment. SJ

Archbishop Thomas and others wait in line as Edward of York (Marco Williamson), the Prince of Wales, shakes the hand of Lord Stanley (Edward Hardwicke). St. Pancras station in N1.

Best one can do without stepping back into a busy dining area. SJ

Catesby and Hastings speak of Richard aiming to take the crown as Edward of York and his young brother Prince Richard of York are sent to the Tower to await the Coronation. Facing County Hall on Westminster Bridge Road. Similar views of the building also appear in ‘The Switch’, ‘Night and the City’.

A lighter view of the former seat of local government. (PW)

Lady Anne speaks with her three new allies, but she feels no better for her confessions. Bushy Park in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

After Richard is proclaimed King, the Queen arrives at the Tower to ask about her sons. Facing Bankside Power Station, now the Tate Modern gallery, on Bankside, London SE1.

This area, here seen from Sumner Street, was off limits during much of the 2010s for the greening of the non-riverside and the construction of the substantial Switch House on the left now known as the Blavatnik Building. SJ

Accompanied by the Duchess of York (Maggie Smith), Queen Elizabeth gets out of the car to be told by Robert Brackenbury that her sons are right well but she may not visit them. The gates to Bankside Power Station.

Looking south towards Sumner Street. SJ

The Queen injects herself with a calming drug during the journey from the Tower... This Is Weston Street SE1, which once ran between St Thomas Street and Tooley Street before it disappeared with the London Bridge Station renovations in the mid 2010s. (SJ)

Following the Coronation, on the balcony of the King’s private viewing gallery the Duke of Buckingham claims the Earldom of Hereford promised by Richard after more killings are ordered. The clock on Shell-Mex House at 80 Strand in London WC2.

Unplanned, I nearly captured the hands' position. SJ

With Richmond’s powerful Navy sighted off the south coast, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth walk with the Duchess of York as she prepares to leave for France. Shoreham Airport, now Brighton City Airport’ off New Salts Farm Road in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.

The Duchess’s plane taxis to the runway. The aircraft is a De Havilland Dragon Rapide dating from 1936 which was de-registered in 2017 and this is Shoreham Airport which also appears in ‘The Big Switch’, ‘The Master Plan’, ‘The Body Stealers’ and ‘Rogue's Yarn’.

With most of his friends deserting him, Richard III prepares to meet the enemy forces of Richmond with his remaining loyal troops. Steamtown Railway Museum on Warton Road, Carnforth in Lancashire. Manuel Gurtner adds that the German tender loco with Witte type smoke deflectors was purchased in 1974. It once belonged to the Deutsche Bundesbahn oil-fired Class 012, but was originally a streamlined Pacific of the Deutsche Reichsbahn class 01.10, built in 1940, as No. 01 1104 by Schwartzkopff at Berlin.

Lord Stanley tells King Richard III of the Earl of Richmond’s progress before changing his loyalties. Steamtown Railway Museum at Carnforth.

As Richard III’s Troops prepare to meet the enemy, Stanley shakes Henry, the Earl of Richmond (Dominic West) by the hand before being greeted by Robert Brackenbury (Donald Sumpter).

Richmond looks across wasteland towards the King’s camp. In the distance, a digitally added Battersea Power Station sits on the horizon.

After marrying Princess Elizabeth and saying a prayer for victory, Henry, Earl of Richmond prepares to attack. Looking up at the chimneys of Battersea Power Station off Kirtling Street in Nine Elms SW8.

Many changes have taken place as a result of the extensive and expensive redevelopment. (RL)

The King’s army prepares for combat. Facing Battersea Power Station, a location seen in many productions including 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus', ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’, ‘Up the Junction’, ‘All Coppers Are . . . ’, ‘Children of Men’ and ‘Give My Regards to Broad Street’.

During the Summer of 2023 this area is host to fun and sporting games, not war games. (RL)

Shells rain down on Richard’s troops as the fighting intensifies. Battersea Power Station consisted of two power stations, Battersea A and Battersea B, built between 1929 and 1941.

With Tyrell manning a mounted machine gun, Ratcliffe drives the King away from the heat of battle. Battersea A was decommissioned in 1975 with Battersea B following three years later.

My best effort given the substantial internal development. (RL)

Leaving the Jeep after his friends are killed, Richard escapes pursued by Richmond. Grade II* listed Battersea Power Station has undergone major redevelopment and reopened as a mixed use complex in October 2022.

Climbing up the bomb damaged structure, Richard faces Richmond from a narrow girder. A last view of Battersea Power Station in London SW8. (I stand to be corrected, but I believe that this was viewed from inside the shell of the building, as was, and therefore not possible now to take a comparative shot. RL)