Never Never Murder, The (A Scotland Yard supporting feature)

“London..greatest City in the World”. An aerial view of London with Westminster Abbey dominating the capture, looking as though the shot was taken from Elizabeth Tower.

….”reputation for honesty and integrity”. A further shot perhaps from Elizabeth Tower of the South Bank showing the site of The Festival of Britain, The Royal Festival Hall with County Hall bottom right.

….”safeguarded by their police force”. The view looking north not perhaps by chance looking over Scotland Yard towards the white building of the Ministry of Defence.

…..”their headquarters is as well known as London itself”. Scotland Yard, Victoria Embankment, SW1.

Maggie Jones found today's scene a little more secure.

“A criminal is a man of his time, a man of the modern city”. Thorn House on Upper Saint Martin's Lane WC2 identified by Mike Carr who used to work for Thorn electrical and visited the building on a number of occasions.

The refurbished building, captured by Maggie Jones.

“a city that is itself constantly changing”. Panning down… An unidentified block... I'm thinking the Vickers Tower (became Millbank). Although Wiki has it built in 1963, it must have been started earlier than that. And 1961 seems about right. (SJ) Internet evidence found by RL has put this beyond doubt.

Still standing after 60 years. SJ

……“new buildings with new shapes arise everywhere”…. The Vickers Tower under construction.

Looking north with the southern edge of Thames House on the bottom right. SJ

….”this is the criminal hunting ground”. Tangley Grove, Roehampton, London SW15, Overton House to the left. These apartment blocks also appear in ‘Secrets of a Door-to-Door Salesman’.

John Harwood took this but it may need a winter shot as I suspect trees were in the way of the best angle. (SJ)

“It was a job of demolition in North London that brought this remarkable case to light”.

The last tenant to the property was a Mrs Bennet (Genine Graham), Supt. Duggan (Russell Napier) and Det. Sgt. Harper (Maurice Good) pay her a visit at her new address. The Fitzhugh Estate, Wandsworth SW18, discovered by Steve Randall. (SR)

Mr Wilks (John Salew) buys an evening newspaper to read about the dead woman, Molly Davies. Outside the 'Leather Bottle' public house, 277 Kingston Road, London SW19, looking across to Merton Park Parade. The pub was next door to the studios.

John H. found the pub still going. (SJ)

Supt. Duggan and Det. Sgt. Harper visit the scene. Newspapers with wedding announcements ringed are found.

“Leg work began” to find out where the couples were now living. Unidentified location.

Unidentified location.

Harper telephones Duggan, one lives and the other has emigrated to Australia. A likely prop telephone box looking across to 3 Merton Park Parade.

John found no phone box. (SJ)

They visit another name on the list Mrs Thorpe (Harriette Johns), married just ten months. They move on to Mrs Robertson (Rosamund Lesley) in Battersea. This is Fairacres, Roehampton Lane, Roehampton SW15. (SR)

John went to Fairacres. (SJ)

A wider shot of the premises as they leave to aid identification. Fairacres, Roehampton SW15. (SR)

John turned to his right. (SJ)

A friend of the deceased, Mrs Phips (Fanny Carby) was able to give the police the address of her last known address. Dave W has found Cristowe Road, London SW6 fits the bill, the building being Churchfield Mansions.

This is the south entrance of the two for Churchfield Mansions on the west side of Cristowe Road. SJ

Once again a wider shot as they depart to aid identification. Is that a school in the background? Well yes, but it is an Academy these days, known as Thomas's [sic] Academy, New Kings Road, SW6 as viewed from Cristowe Road. With thanks to Dave W.

Looking north. The state-run New King's Primary school was enabled as an Academy by the Thomas's group in 2015. SJ

The serial number of the TV at the Robinsons proved to be one rented by the deceased, Mrs Molly Davies. What was 18 Wimbledon Bridge, SW19 now redeveloped as Metro Bank at 1-2 Wimbledon Bridge.

Peter Bywaters sent this in adding, "Ketts Television once stood here. Not so much redeveloped but completely replaced with no reference to the past." (SJ/RL)

“This was the beginning of one of the most elaborate operations, ever undertaken by ‘The Yard’, every CID in the London area was asked to co-operate.” The now demolished Chelsea police station at the corner of Lucan Place and Petyward in SW3. The building can also be seen in ‘Street Corner’, 'Three Steps to the Gallows' ,‘The Party’s Over’ and ‘Circumstantial Evidence’

Dozens of local newspapers were scanned for announcements of recent marriages following exactly the same procedure as the criminal. This is the former Register Office for Births, Deaths and Marriages at 35 Coombe Road, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey identified by Peter Bywaters. The building can be seen in 'The Silent Weapon', 'The Share Out', 'Inadmissible Evidence', 'Evidence in Concrete', 'Confession' and 'Private Information'.

Peter found that the former Register Office has been converted into apartments.

Young brides from all over the city received unexpected visits from the police. Unknown location.

Who asked them to report at once if any salesman called them offering a machine, a TV set…. Unknown location.

At the same time any inoffensive bald man could find himself under observation. …. Unknown location

Duggan and Harper return to interview Mrs Bennet but she has gone, like Mrs Molly Davies, with an assortment of domestic equipment, helped by a nondescript friend driving a plain van. Fitzhugh Estate, Wandsworth SW18. (SR)

A ‘sting operation’ is organised with a Mr and Mrs Wilson (John Downing and Patricia Mort) but with Harper acting as Mr Wilson, he bids farewell to Mr Wilks who has just sold them a tape recorder. Unknown location

Wilks returns to his warehouse in the films Upper Thames Lane, Richmond, Supt. Duggan and his team prepare to raid and arrest him. Unknown location