White Cliffs Mystery, The (A Scotland Yard supporting feature)

Edgar Lustgarten outlines details of the Matrion case which begins with the 7.55 from Seahaven speeding towards Waterloo. Salisbury Tunnel Junction to the east of Fisherton Tunnel near Salisbury in Wiltshire with the signalbox, which closed in 1981, to the extreme right.

The camera pans with the train as it enters Fisherton Tunnel on the north-eastern approach to Salisbury station.

"One of the small country stations at which the train did not stop was Branton." Grateley railway station between Basingstoke and Salisbury on the West of England Main Line Line in Hampshire.

The Porter (Charlie Bird) wheels a barrow load of parcels onto the platform as the express approaches. Grateley station stands adjacent to Station Road at Palestine to the west of Grateley.

As the train speeds through the station, the Porter notices something falling from one of the carriages and sliding along the platform. Looking eastward at Grateley station with the Railway Hotel in the left background and the bridge carrying Wallop Road in the right distance. The scene also appears in 'The Ghost Train Murder'.

The Porter rushes up and leans over the body that had been thrown from the train. Opened in 1857, this is Grateley station to the south-west of Grateley village.

Ascertaining that the man was dead, the Porter calls the police. The Down Platform at Grateley railway station in Hampshire.

Following an examination of the corpse showing that the man identified as Edward Matrion had been strangled, Inspector Brooke (Alan Robinson) and a Policeman (John Baker) make their way to take a call from the Chief Constable. Outside the ticket office on the Up Platform at Grateley station.

The Policeman holds the door of the Station Master's office open for Inspector Brooke. Grateley station in Hampshire.

Contacted by the local police at Branton, Superintendent Duggan and Detective Sergeant Blunt are driven to Waterloo station where the express from Seahaven had already terminated. The cab road at Waterloo station in London SE1.

A workmen painting the window frames took an interest in Neil Kenny's picture taking and explained that the repaint was the first in 20 years.

The Detectives' car enters the station. The concourse at Waterloo station.

In Neil Kenny's comparison the elevated platform and other structures now obscure the entrance archway.

Getting out of the Wolseley, Detective Sergeant Blunt (Julian Strange) and Superintendent Duggan (Russell Napier) are introduced to a Railway Official (Arthur Goullet) by a Senior Police Officer (Victor Charrington). Waterloo terminus in SE1.

Neil Kenny found a lot of added clutter but the distinctive ornamental stonework is still present.

In the carriage sidings, the four Men make their way to the rake of coaches that had formed the 7.55 from Seahaven where they interview Guard William Grant. Colin Watts of the Blood and Custard website contracted Jonathan Horswell to confirm that the carriage sidings are those at Clapham Junction in Battersea SW11. Colin also advises that the train of coaches in which the Guard is interviewed comprises of 1959 Bulleid ‘Multidoor’ stock, more details of which can be found on the site at https://www.bloodandcustard.com/

Finding out that Matrion was a research engineer specialising in guided missiles and that some of his paperwork was missing, the Scotland Yard Detectives contact the BBC. Broadcasting House on Portland Place in W1.

Broadcasting House now by Neil Kenny.

Within the hour, a request is broadcast asking all passengers who travelled on the 7.55 from Seahaven to communicate with the police. Langham Place with Broadcasting House at the corner of Portland Place, Langham Street and All Souls Place.

Neil Kenny found that the entrance to the building was obscured.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Duggan and his Sergeant called at the home of the dead Man.

Inside the house, Dr. Wescott tells the Superintendent that the shock of hearing about her Husband's death would possible kill the ailing Mrs. Matrion.

Superintendent Duggan returns to the Yard to find that Passengers from the train had responded well to the request for assistance. Outside New Scotland Yard on Victoria Embankment in London SW1.

The scene now by Neil Kenny.

Inside his office, the Superintendent is told that Matrion had drawn a large amount of money from his bank account before travelling to Seahaven. Looking up at New Scotland Yard, now Norman Shaw North.

Superintendent Duggan and Detective Sergeant Blunt travel to Seahaven. The entrance to Hastings station on Station Approach in Hastings, Sussex.

Enquiries start outside the station where tow Taxi Drivers are asked if they recognise Matrion from his photo. Station Approach outside Hastings station.

One Cabby remembers driving Matrion to his hotel. In front of Hastings station with properties on Cornwallis Terrace in the left background.

Tim Parnell provides this view showing the background buildings and explains that the station was rebuilt with a new building opening in October 2004 to the east of the original.

Matrion's hire car is recovered from Salters Garage and driven back to the police station. Peter Bywaters found Kingston Road, Wimbledon SW19 with the junction of Palmerston Road in the background.

Disappointed to see that the old shop at the corner was in the process of being demolished, Peter explains that the building to the left of the capture was the Wimbledon School of Art Annexe, demolished about ten years ago and replaced by flats.

The shot pans with the Ford Consul as it enters the workshop for meticulous examination. The side entrance of former council offices at 116 - 118 Kingston Road in Wimbledon identified by Peter Bywaters.

Peter tells us that the building on the left, once a library built in 1902, has now been converted into private residences known as Horatio Place.

When chalk is found inside the car, Detective Inspector (Frank Forsyth) and Detective (Graham Leaman) accompany Duggan and Blunt to a cliff near Seahaven where a body has been found.

A Member of the Coastguard abseils down the cliff to where the corpse of Elizabeth Welton, Matrion's secretary, is lying.

At Scotland Yard the next day, Superintendent Duggan speaks with Mr. Graves, a passenger who was on the train that Matrion travelled on. New Scotland Yard on Derby Gate SW1.

Looking for a college scarf that he had seen a suspicious person wearing on board the train, Mr. Graves (Joe Gibbons) is accompanied to an gentleman's outfitters by Detective Inspector Blunt. The southern end of Piccadilly Arcade on Jermyn Street SW1.

Taken during the festive season. (PW)

Discovering the scarf to be that of the Afro-Asian Technical College in West Kensington, Superintendent Duggan and Detective Sergeant Blunt pay a visit. Dave W sees this as 2 Kensington Park Gardens, London W11 also seen in 'High Treason', there, as 'Wells Tutorial College'. (RL)

Taken from the corner of Kensington Park Road. SJ

After consulting the register and tracing a student fitting the description of one seen on the train, the Superintendent says goodbye to the College Principal (Ronald Cardew). See previous capture. Dave points out that over the years it has enjoyed a variable number of lions as adornments on the entranceway plinths. (RL)

Same door but the foliage has increased. SJ

Superintendent Duggan and Detective Sergeant Blunt make their way to Mrs. Jelks' lodging house in Pimlico where Josef Armed rents a room . . . the same address where Matrion's secretary lived. And it is the same street that formed part of Dave W's 'home beat', Charlwood Street, London SW1 with the detectives about to make a call at No 61. A conveniently placed drain cover and utility cover are still extant. (RL)

Looking north-east to Denbigh Street. SJ