Eight O’Clock Walk

To an orchestral rendition of 'Oranges and Lemons', the scene is set with a montage of London views. Looking eastward along Strand WC2 towards Fleet Street EC4 with St. Clement Danes church inn the foreground and the Royal Court of Justice to the left.

The fountains of Trafalgar Square in WC2 with St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in the background.

The view over the eastern Beatty fountain. SJ

St. Paul's Cathedral stands across Cannon Street EC4 with St. Augustine's church to the bottom right. Similar views are seen in 'The Fan', 'Stage Fright', 'Das Verrätertor', 'Dark Passage', 'The Lavender Hill Mob' and 'King of the Underworld'.

Paul Lincoln did well to manage this comparative shot given the passing of 70years and the war time reparations made to this location. (RL)

St. Leonard's church on Shoreditch High Street E1.

The tower of St. Dunstan & All Saints church on Stepney High Street in E1.

Phil Evans took this perfectly matched shot of the southern face of St. Dunstan & All Saints from Belgrave Street.

Bow church on Bow Road in Bow E3.

It's April Fool's Day and the school bell rings to signal the start of lessons. Essendine Primary School on Essendine Road in Maida Vale W9 identified by Steve Randall.

Richard Bennett returned to school.

Ernie Higgs (David Hannaford) runs along a street with his Friends. Frances Bull identifies this as Bolton Road NW8 with buildings on Alexandra Road in the background.

Denis Hoare confirms that many of the captures are not possible now due to redevelopment of the Abbey Road estate as mentioed in Capture 14. However, a few are possible, this section of Bolton Road being one, revealing a significant change. (RL)

Leaning on a post, Ernie quickly writes a letter. Bolton Road in Camden.

Ernie delivers the "urgent" letter which, when opened by Mrs. Foster reads "April Fool". Facing number 34 Bolton Road.

The Boys run on to where a Milkman is talking with two of his Customers. The corner of Holtham Road and Bolton Road where, on the left, Tariq points out the long demolished Albert Edward public house at number 29 Bolton Road.

Looking up to where Ernie points, the Milkman and Customers are caught out by another "April Fool". Frances recalls that her Mother, Aunt, Uncle and Grandfather all lived at number 7 Holtham Road from the late 1940s with her Aunt and Uncle remaining until early 1967, after which the visually dire Abbey Estate was constructed.

Jill (Cathy O'Donnell) and Tom Manning (Richard Attenborough) appear from their lodgings as they set off to work. Frances Bull confirms this to be Holtham Road NW8, as she used to walk there via Bolton Road and Alexandra Road.

Tom narrates "Jill and I were a little late. That sometimes happens when you've only just got married." Looking south-west on Holtham Road identified by Gary Harding who adds that the street no longer exists, having been covered by the Abbey Estate development.

Irene Evans (Cheryl Molineaux) stands at the end of the road and begins to cry as Tom approaches. Holtham Road in Camden, just east of Kilburn High Road station where Adrian Grepnold points out the Borough of Hampstead Minton street sign.

Denis Hoare used a handy flower pot to mark the spot where he determined the brick pillar on the right would have been. This is the junction of Holtham Rd and Abbey Rd. A handy prop indeed Denis. (RL)

"I hadn't a care in the world. But Irene seemed to have plenty." The Abbey Road end of Holtham Road.

Here Denis uses the flower pot as reference to where the brick pillar was, this shows the buildings of the Abbey Rd estate replacing what was Holtham Rd. (RL)

"She was crying her eyes out and her tears seemed real enough. She said she'd lost her doll. That's a bit of a heartbreak for any little girl, so whats a man to do?" The corner of Abbey Road and Holtham Road.

The view looking down Abbey Rd today, once again Denis places the the flower pot, here on the right. (RL)

"We set off to find that doll. If only I'd remembered it was the first of April." Looking across Abbey Road into Holtham Road in Camden NW8. Frances Bull confirms this to be a view from the bomb site across which she remembers was still there in 1960. (RL)

Denis visited to find that the bomb site is now a car park for more residential blocks on this side of the road, hidden from the road by a convenient bush that allowed him to include a bit of foliage similar to that in the original screen capture. Pushing himself into the bush to get this shot resulted in him getting covered in little blue flowers. Denis, as always, totally selfless, thank you. (RL)

Soon after entering the old bomb site, Irene starts to giggle and declares "April Fool."

Laughing, Tom chases the little girl, and is spotted by Mrs. Adeline Zunz as he shakes his fist in feigned anger.

Irene continues to run towards the canal. Led by Kevin Rayner's identification of Hawley Lock on the Regent's Canal, this is Hawley Wharf in NW1

Apologies for the off-anlge here. Businesses now occupy the arches. SJ

Hawley Lock located by Kevin Rayner, with the viaduct carrying the railway between Primrose Hill and Camden Road stations crossing the background.

The same clink on the canal pathway. SJ

Reaching the cut, Irene settles by the water and begins to sing "Oranges and Lemons" as she feeds the ducks. Discovered to be Hawley Lock on the Grand Union Canal in Camden Town by Kevin Rayner.

Is that rapidly rusting mooring post a later addition? SJ

The shadow of a man is cast onto the still water as he walks across the down hill lock gates' walkway.

Access here was barred so I've gone for the reverse POV to show the railings on the walkway. SJ

Moving along the balance beam, the shadow approaches Irene. Hawley Lock NW1, found by Kevin Rayner.

Again with access tricky, this is the best I could do. SJ

Now running late, Tom checks his watch as he approaches work. Looking all the way from the USA, Roy Barnacle spotted York Way on the east side of Kings Cross station in NW1. To the left the wall of Kings Cross station and on the right the premises of York Way Motors Ltd.

Beside King's Cross station captured by John Maudsley.

The scaffolding has gone from King's Cross but the buses still rest there. SJ

Tom enters the yard of Radio Cabs London. 32 York Way, London NW1 located by Roy Barnacle.

The former entry to the yard as it appears now.

A new paint job in the intervening years. SJ

Approaching dispatcher Ted Lane (Robert Sydney), Tom asks why number 51 is being taken out by Joe. 32 York Way, London NW1

Now smart offices, with thanks to Roy and John.

Not much has changed in the last 15 or so years. SJ

Joe (Max Brimmell) complains, asking does he own that cab and Ted replies "Not yet." 32 York Way, London NW1

Much changed. SJ

As Irene Evans is missed at school registration, Tom goes about his business on what seems to be a normal day. The Mall in SW1 with Buckingham Palace in the distance..

Taken from outside any cab. SJ

Another fare is driven around Trafalgar Square.

The camera was on the eastern side of Trafalgar Square. SJ

Tom pulls over to pick up a Woman and Child.

While a Teacher at Irene's school alerts Mrs. Evans after consulting with the Headmaster, Tom's busy day continues. Piccadilly Circus W1 with Shaftesbury Avenue in the background.

About here but there is a lot of clutter. SJ

The cab turns towards the corner of Piccadilly and Regent Street.

Completely covered at the moment so here's a shot from a few months earlier. The Jeypine advert, later replaced bv Younger's Scotch Ales, and London Pavilion advertisements have long gone, as we look east down Coventry Street. SJ

With his shift over, Tom returns to the depot where he his friend PC Bob Tamplin has called in to speak with him about the missing girl. Looking out onto York Way in NW1.

Looking west sans petrol pumps. SJ

Following an evening out with Mr. and Mrs. Tamplin, Tom and Jill return home by taxi to be told by their Landlady that a Detective Chief Inspector is waiting to ask more questions. Holtham Road NW8 with Bolton Road in the background shadow.

On his way to work the next day, Tom picks up a newspaper and reads the headlines about Irene's body being found the previous evening. Dave W immediately spots Bishop's Bridge Road W2 with Tom passing, the then, Royal Oak public house, before the corner turns into Porchester Road. (RL)

The pub has been remodelled but at least it's still open. SJ

Tom turns a corner and heads to the depot where he finds Joe taking out his cab before being asked to accompany the Detective Chief Inspector to the police station. And here Tom has turned into Porchester Road, W2 from Bishop's Bridge Road, thanks Dave. (RL)

The Porchester Pub address is 88 Bishop's Bridge Road: and this is looking north up Porchester Road. SJ

At the police station, Tom is questioned before being charged with the murder of Irene Evans. Paddington Green police station on Harrow Road W2 which also features in 'The Blue Lamp', '23 Paces to Baker Street' and 'The Challenge'.

Jill visits solicitors Munro and Munro to enquire how Tom's defence is progressing. Dave W unravels the various clues available in this capture and establishes that it is Worship Street, London EC2 and its junction with Paul Street off to the right. The building on the extreme right, now 'The Joiner', remains, as do one or two further down the road but not that dominant one. Having established the location Dave is able to advise that the dome on the extreme left is that of Lowndes House on City Road. (RL)

Paul Lincoln was reassured to find that there were still buildings remaining to assist with establishment of the shot. (RL)

Scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey, Tom is visited by Jill as he waits in prison. Wormwood Scrubs on Du Cane Road W12, which is 0een in many films including 'The Italian Job', 'Nothing Barred', 'Dr. Crippen', 'Adventures of a Taxi Driver', 'The Challenge', 'Seven Green Bottles', 'Black Orchid' and 'Hot Millions'.

The tree avenue has largely gone and the barrier is rather off-putting. SJ

JT reckons there's a clue here somewhere!

The south east corner towards Serle Street. SJ.

Jill calls on Mr. Benson to find that the barrister is away due to being ill before junior counsel Peter Tanner agrees to take on the case. Old Square in WC2 which Paul Canty recognised from ''Identity Unknown' and 'Home to Danger'.

No 8 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn. The "Drive Slowly" sign has gone and the greenery has grown. (RL)

The trial begins. The dome of the Central Criminal Court on Old Bailey EC4.

The customary shot from ground level. SJ

After Mrs. Evans appears in the witness box, Mr. Justice Harrington (Harry Welchman) adjourns the court. Old Bailey EC4 seen from the corner of Newgate Street EC1.

The same corner. This replaces my Dec '23 shot which was mis-sized. SJ

The judge crosses to St. Bartholomew's Hospital where his Wife is waiting to undergo an operation. The North Wing of St. Bartholomew's Hospital on Giltspur Street EC1.

It was difficult for Paul to capture the same angle given the limited space but this shot would suggest that the name has moved from iron lettering to engraved lettering. (RL)

Proceedings continue the following day. The Central Criminal Court at the corner of Old Bailey and Newgate Street.

A slightly more unusual shot of the court in that it was taken from just inside the grounds of the Holy Sepulchre Church. This was taken slightly to the left of the gate to avoid too much tree but resulting in a slight mis-angle. SJ

The dome and other parts of the Central Criminal Court appear in a great number of productions including ‘Seven Days to Noon’, 'Three Sundays to Live', 'Never Look Back', ‘The Blue Lamp’, 'Brothers in Law', ‘Dr. Crippen’, ‘The Naked Edge’, 'Gideon's Day' and 'Appointment with Crime'.

Looking south, and this replaces my off-angle which missed the gate a month ago. SJ