Nineteen Eighty-Four (aka 1984)

Setting the scene with The Party preaching Hate. Wikipedia locates this as inside a hangar at RAF Hullavington near Chippenham in Wiltshire.

Winston Smith (John Hurt) heads home to Victory Mansions. Wikipedia states Battersea Power Station in Wandsworth SW8 but the scene could also have been shot at the derelict Beckton Gasworks.

Another day sees Winston walking home from the Ministry of Truth before passing The Chestnut Tree Cafe. An unconfirmed location.

In the proletarian area of the city, a young girl stands away as an armoured vehicle passes. Determined from the frontages in the next capture, this is Cheshire Street in Shoreditch, London E2.

Somewhere about here. (PW)

The girl watches as Winston approaches a pawnshop. Cheshire Street E2, seen from the corner of Kerbella Street with the entrance to Grimsby Street in the centre background. Other parts of Cheshire Street appear in ‘Children of Men’ and ‘Last Christmas'.

The near side of the street has been redeveloped. (PW)

Winston comes out of Mr Charrington's shop after renting a seedy room with a bug ridden bed. Likely to be the corner of Cheshire Street and Kerbella Street.

If it is the corner of Cheshire Street and Kerbella Street, then this is the location now. (PW)

Enemy troops are paraded before being executed. IMDB suggests Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way in Muswell Hill, London N22.

A less miserable view of the location from Peter.

The start of a panning shot showing the starkness and ruination of the, then, future. Battersea Power Station off Kirtling Street in London SW8.

The north side of the revamped power station. SJ

Winston waits at the station for a train to the country and an illicit meeting with Julia. This has the appearance of Nine Elms Freight Depot which rather appropriately features in 'The Optimists of Nine Elms' as well as 'Richard III' from 1995. The area has seen much demolition and redevelopment in recent years.

A Man (Norman Bacon) approaches Winston on the platform. Battersea SW8.

Winston and Julia (Suzanna Hamilton) meet away from the city and the prying eyes of Big Brother. Roundway Hill near Devizes in Wiltshire.

Clive Rideout could not detect any "Fraternal Prying" when he was there. (RL)

After spending time with Julia in his room over Charrington's shop, Winston makes his way home. Hugh O'Donnell advises that this is First Avenue in Plaistow E13.

Hugh captured the location almost 35 years since 1984.

Winston glances at posters as he turns a corner. First Avenue, Plaistow identified by Hugh. Also see the post script at the bottom of the page.

A Man rushes past calling to Winston to "Get down" just as a 'steamer' rocket bomb is about to land. Third Avenue looking towards First Avenue in Plaistow E13 located by Hugh O'Donnell.

The road layout remains the same in Hugh's modern view.

In flashback, Winston Smith (Rupert Baderman) recalls the time that he stole chocolate from his Mother. Identified by Alex Mills as Beckton Gasworks in London E6. The site closed in 1976 and is now largely home to retail shopping parks. Phil Evans notes that this building featured prominently in 'Biggles'.

Researching aerial photos and old maps, Phil Evans is pretty certain this is its location explaining that this is now Armada Way, between Beckton DLR Depot and land currently scheduled for development into housing.

Winston's Mother (Corina Seddon) calls to her son as he runs away. Looking out onto Beckton Gasworks, a location also seen in 'Brannigan', 'For Your Eyes Only', 'Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future' and 'Dusty Bates'. (RL)

The young Winston runs through the dereliction. The now demolished Beckton Gasworks, London E6.

Looking south-east on Armada Way, taken by Phil Evans.

"We must crush them, we must smash them . . . . " The crowd cheers in Victory Square. Alexandra Palace in N22.

Peter took this shot through glass panels but couldn't avoid the annoying, ever changing neon light in the right distance.

Oceanian troops march by. Beckton Gasworks, as seen earlier. (RL)

Winston's mind wanders whilst being tortured by O'Brien (Richard Burton). Two plus two equals five! Roundway Hill, Wiltshire.

Clive Rideout captured the scene following 'perception realignment' . (RL)

WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. The Ministry of Truth. Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1. Posing as a different Ministry, the imposing building also features in 'Their Finest', 'Cheer Boys Cheer', 'Last Night in Soho', 'Dunkirk' and 'It's Not Cricket'.

Twenty Thirteen, nearly 30 years later by Peter.

This post script features images taken shortly after filming took place in Plaistow. Hugh O'Donnell explains that he "was a student at Queen Mary College, and lived nearby in the 80s, when I took photos of the derelict streets which still had the Big Brother posters on some of the houses."

Hugh continues "The corner house with the wooden supports was the same one used in the Human League video 'Keep Feeling (Fascination)', where it was painted red. It was still half red at the time they filmed 1984, they only painted the bit that would be seen in the shot."

The location as seen in 'Nineteen-Eighty Four'.

The derelict buildings certainly looked the part.