Late Night Final (A Scotland Yard supporting feature)

One lunch hour, in the East End of London near the docks, newspaper seller Joe Burrage witnesses three Crooks make their getaway in the latest of a spate of raids. The signs tell us that this is No. 10 Gate on St. Katherine’s Way in E1 with the Ivory House in the centre background.

This case had every appearance of being just another well organised warehouse robbery, with the Police quickly on the scene. The Manor Club and Institute at 76 Kingston Road, Wimbledon in SW19 located by Peter Bywaters which can also be seen in ‘The Case of the River Morgue’.

An off angle comparison by Peter, due to the proximity of a bus shelter.

A number of Criminals known to the Police as specialists in this type of crime were at once interviewed.

The whereabouts of Suspects at the time of the crime were checked and investigated. That looks like a Police Call Box in the distance and there's a roundabout out of view to the left of it. In a scene that also appears in 'The Cross-Roads Gallows', James Russell identifies the background Police Call Box as the one standing at Tibbet's Corner towards the north-eastern corner of Putney Heath in Putney SW19. The area has changed drastically with the new, larger Tibbet's Corner roundabout now covering the location.

Following his research, Peter Bywaters provides this representational view at the original junction at Tibbet's Corner which connected Putney Hill with West Hill, Kingston Road, Parkside, Victoria Drive and Princes Way where the police call box once stood on the corner of Kingston Road and Parkside.

Greyhound tracks were visited. Wimbledon Stadium on Plough Lane SW17 recognised by Peter Bywaters who. as a boy, lived just up the road and on a Saturday night would go to the stock car racing there. The footage is reused in 'Night Plane to Amsterdam released the following year.

Once home to greyhound, speedway and stock car racing, Peter adds that the stadium was demolished in 2018.

Those who couldn't give a satisfactory alibi were brought in for an identity parade before witnesses.

As he steps out of a newsagents, another likely Suspect has his collar felt. This scene is reused four years later in 'Print of Death'.

Joe Burrage, with other witnesses, was asked to attend the identity parade at the local police station. The Manor Club and Institute on Kingston Road, Wimbledon identified by Peter Bywaters who adds that the building is about half a mile from the site of Merton Park Studios

Peter explains that the club has since been converted into flats.

When Joe goes missing after the identity parade, PC Everitt (Frank Forsyth) makes enquiries in the area where he worked.

Whilst questioning a Greengrocer (Margaret Harrison) opposite the police station, she tells the Constable that she remembers a laundry van stop and a man, later identified as Richard Woolland (Richard Shaw), get out to make a phone call after watching Joe arrive for the identity parade. This appears to be a set at Merton Park Studios.

A description of the fake laundry van and its driver are circulated and enquiries made at garages that hired out similar vehicles.

Police arrive at another depot to continue their search for vehicles used in the series of thefts.

On a dual carriageway, a Police Motorcyclist pulls over a Bedford lorry similar to the one used at the docks. Peter Bywaters explains that this is looking south along the A3 Malden Way as it passes between New Malden and Motspur Park in Surrey. The footage also appears in 'The Cross-Roads Gallows'.

As can be seen in Peter's comparison, the bridge has been replaced by an underpass and slip roads now take vehicles to a roundabout for Worcester Park or New Malden.

A Garage Owner (Jack Cunningham) tells Inspector Turner (Colin Tapley) and Sergeant Conway (John Wynn) that a Man first came to him about six months ago and takes a van from his yard every Monday.

After a description of the wanted man is issued, Woolland walks past a Policeman as he leaves a Labour Exchange. Recognised by Richard Lovejoy, this is Wyfold Road looking towards the junction with Kingswood Road and Bronsart Road in SW6.

A complete transformation in the foreground. SJ

Woolland looks back before quickening his pace. The corner of Wyfold Road and Kingswood Road with Bronsart Road to the right identified by RL who adds that the location can be seen in 'All Neat in Black Stockings'.

The shop is now a residence. SJ

After investigations into Woolland's background are carried out and Burrage's clothes are found in his lodgings, the Inspector and Sergeant Conway are led to the wanted man's car parked behind a Barnet cinema.

Officers are posted around the car park.

Policemen patrol between the vehicles before taking cover.

Woolland arrives on the scene with a Woman.

When a whistle sounds, Woolland makes an attempt to escape.

Following Woolland onto the roof of the cinema, a Policeman grapples with him. Dave W has similarly been grapping, but he with architectural detail, that has led him to the roof of St Martin's Theatre, West Street WC2, the leftmost turret belongs to 1 - 5 West Street WC2. (RL)

Knocking the Constable to the floor, Woolland turns to flee. The roof of St Martin's Theatre, West Street WC2 as identified by Dave in the previous capture. (RL)

Finding a ladder, the villain makes his way onto a lower section of the roof. Dave finishes off with "looking up West Street towards the Dutch gable at 95 Charing Cross Road W1. Remarkably the chimney column seen on the right of the capture is still standing at the rear of 4 - 10 Tower Street." (RL)

Woolland looks down onto the traffic below. Just as Dave W looked down on that bus shelter when he was on his way to Foyles. The eastern entrance to the National Gallery to the right and Trafalgar Square to the left, as seen from South Africa House. (RL)