Lost Hearts

Date: 1973
Director: Lawrence Gordon Clark
Production Company: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Stars: Joseph O'Conor, Susan Richards, Simon Gipps-Kent, James Mellor
Location(s): Lincolnshire

Region(s):

Storyline:

A young orphan is sent to live with his strange, much older cousin at his remote country house where he experiences terrible dreams in which he sees a young girl and boy who are missing their hearts.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

An episode broadcast as part of the BBC’s ‘A Ghost Story for Christmas’ series

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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

  • Capture 1
  • 'Now' required

As a carriage takes him to stay with his older cousin Peregrine in the country, Stephen Elliot looks through the window to see a bedraggled Boy and Girl waving at him through the mist.

  • Capture 2
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The Children vanish when the horse rears and the journey continues until Aswarby Hall comes into view. South Ormsby Hall in Lincolnshire.

  • Capture 3
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A short distance further brings the carriage to the hall. The Grade II listed South Ormsby Hall at South Ormsby.

  • Capture 4
  • 06 Jan 2023

Peregrine Abney looks excitedly through a window as the carriage draws to a halt. South Ormsby Hall seen from across the fish pond.

This is taken looking west from Ormsby RIng. The pond is out of sight beyond the fence. SJ

  • Capture 5
  • 06 Jan 2023

After the carriage departs, Parkes (James Mellor) picks up the baggage that Stephen Elliot (Simon Gipps-Kent) has brought with him. The frontage of South Ormsby Hall.

Best angle I could manage with a zoom lens doing the hard work. SJ

  • Capture 6
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While exploring the grounds of Aswarby Hall, Stephen comes across an odd structure. Brocklesby Mausoleum at Great Limber to the west of Grimsby in Lincolnshire.

  • Capture 7
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Entering the circular building, the eleven year old looks upward before a chill makes him shiver. The lantern glazing in Brocklesby Mausoleum.

  • Capture 8
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Wrapping his arms around himself as he returns to the sunlight, Stephen catches sight of a Boy (Christopher Davis) darting away. Brocklesby Mausoleum at Great Limber to the west of Grimsby.

  • Capture 9
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Quickly following, Stephen loses sight of the stranger. Brocklesby Mausoleum at Great Limber, Lincolnshire.

  • Capture 10
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As Mr. Abney welcomes him back from his travels, Stephen glances up to one of the higher windows of the house where he sees the Boy and the Girl (Michelle Foster).

  • Capture 11
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One day, the housekeeper Mrs. Bunch (Susan Richards) explains to Stephen that a Girl came to live with them for a few weeks and how she and Peregrine Abney (Joseph O'Conor) watched as the dyke was dredged after she disappeared.

  • Capture 12
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The housekeeper tells of when Mr. Abney took in a Boy named Giovanni who played a hurdy-gurdy, but that he too vanished soon afterwards.

  • Capture 13
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While Mr. Abney writes in his diary as the clock ticks into another day, the Boy and the Girl appear in the grounds of the house. South Ormsby Hall in South Ormsby.

  • Capture 14
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On Stephen's 12th birthday, Mr. Abney leaves the house after reading about the path to immortality in one of his ancient books. South Ormsby Hall in Lincolnshire.

  • Capture 15
  • 06 Jan 2023

Following Mr. Abney's horrifying death, the Vicar (Roger Milner) presides over the scholar's funeral. St. Leonard's church in South Ormsby, Lincolnshire.

This is just south of South Ormsby Hall and immediately south of the Old School Hall. SJ

  • Capture 16
  • 06 Jan 2023

Letting his eyes wander, Stephen sees the Boy and the Girl waving from outside the graveyard.

Quite a small graveyard at St Leonard's so the grave stones were easy to spot. A post and rail fence has been added to this view looking north. SJ

  • Capture 17
  • 06 Jan 2023

Stephen watches as the pair walk away in silence.

The tree, also seen in the capture comparison 15, has appeared from seemingly nowhere, but there is a nice match of those gravestones which still haven't fallen over. SJ

  • Capture 18
  • 06 Jan 2023

Mrs. Bunch turns but sees nothing. St. Leonard's church, South Ormsby in Lincolnshire.

The east side of the church. SJ