Flame in the Streets

A London bus drives past as teachers and children head to school. On the right, Adrian Grepnold recognised Chalk Farm Bus Garage on Harmood Street in NW1 which was demolished in the 1990s.

Harmood Street in Chalk Farm, but hasn't it changed? Picture by David Neicho.

Teachers Kathie Palmer (Sylvia Syms) and Peter Lincoln (Johnny Sekka) come into view as they walk towards Hawley Secondary School. Harmood Street with the corner of Clarence Way to the left of centre.

The same junction from David Neicho.

Harmood Street, again at the junction with Clarence Way. The titles play over the original CinemaScope ratio before turning to pan and scan.

A closer view of the junction now by David Neicho.

Continuing to pan left, the camera stays with the staff and pupils as they enter the school. Adrian Grepnold advises that this is Harmood Street, outside the school now known as the Camden Centre for Learning.

David Neicho provides the comparison.

It's 5th November and outside the fictional "Visser & Crane" furniture factory two young boys ask a penny for the guy. Out of shot to the right runs a railway siding that may cross the road in front of the works. Ray and Ron Glenister have placed this as Slough Trading Estate on what is now the corner of Buckingham Avenue and Bestobell Road. It was also seen in "On the Beat". (RL)

One of the company's trucks returns to the factory where Gabriel Gomez has been made up to temporary foreman. The street sign reads New Wharf Road. See capture 3 (RL)

Letting the truck through, the Security Guard tells the boys to clear off. Also see capture 3. (RL)

The truck backs up to the loading bay where Les, Tim and Gerry work. See capture 3. (RL)

On his way home from work, Gabriel Gomez (Earl Cameron) helps children to load a bonfire in readiness for that evenings fireworks. This is Leybourne Road in Camden Town NW1 says Ray Glenister. Now a very different street with the background buildings all gone.

Jubilee (Dan Jackson) leaves the property of which he's the landlord. 60 Hawley Road NW1, which was also seen in 'It Always Rains on Sunday' and 'The Tall Guy' advises SJ.

The same building survives. SJ.

Gabriel approaches the property where he shares a small flat with his wife Judy. SJ informs that this is a length of Hawley Road that was effectively an extension of Leybourne Road.

Very little obvious in the background as Leybourne Road has all but disappeared from where the no entry sign stands. SJ.

Gabriel listens unconvinced as Jubilee brags about having to have a car because he covers such a wide area with his work. Hawley Road in NW1. A scene for 'The Drayton Case' was shot nearby at the corner with Hartland Road.

Having finished his days work at Visser & Crane, craftsman and union official Jacko Palmer nears home in his car. Clarence Way in Camden Town NW1 identified by David Neicho.

And David proves it with this image.

The Ford Popular is brought to a halt as neighbour Alf replaces the spare tyre on his scooter. A little further along Clarence Way.

A modern view of Clarence Way by SJ.

Jack Palmer (John Mills) opens the door to the house where he lives with his wife Nell and daughter Kathie. Clarence Way was also seen in 'It Always Rains on Sunday'.

62 and 60 Clarence Way. SJ.

After school, Kathie and Peter talk as they walk near the canal. The terrace is Canal View seen from the bridge over Royal College Street in NW1. The houses were pulled down in the 1960s and properties on Reachview Close now occupy the site.

Not fully visible in the cropped version of the film, the Constitution pub still remains. SJ.

The lovers speak about Montego Bay and their future together. Canal View fills the background. The terrace is also featured 'Train of Events', 'Police Dog' and 'The Hostage'.

Proof in this picture from Adrian Grepnold.

After the tone turns serious, the two embrace before continuing home. College Street Bridge passes over the Grand Union canal as it flows through Camden Town.

The same bridge snapped by Adrian.

Chatting away, Kathy and Peter walk north along Ferdinand Street in NW1. The location was found by Ray Glenister who notes that Ferdinand Place can be seen to the right.

Ray discovered that there's no longer any iron railings or damp basements in this part of the street. Image copyright Google Earth.

Kathy spots two of her father's workmates as they cross the road ahead. Having established the other captures in this location, Ray Glenister advises that these flats stand in Ferdinand Street NW1.

The same flats. Image copyright Google Earth.

Hugh Davies (Glyn Houston) and Dowell (Cyril Chamberlain) walk by after Kathy quickly pulls Peter into a shop doorway. Just seen on the wall to the right is the start of GUL, the old London telephone exchange Gulliver, which in fact was Kentish Town.

Ray Glenister has placed this as Ferdinand Street, London NW1 approximately where the second set of refuse bins are located in the capture from Bing. Directly opposite Kent House on the left. (RL)

Kathy admires the suits in the window as Davies and Dowell walk past. Looking across at Kent House on Ferdinand Street.

After a neighbour tells Nell that she saw her daughter with a 'coloured' fella, Kathy approaches home. The school visible through the bridge stands on the corner of Clarence Way and Hartland Road.

Spectators gather around as the bonfire is lit. Looking across towards Castlehaven Road with Leybourne Road to the right and the railway viaduct on the left.

Les (Michael Wynne), Tim (Max Butterfield) and Gerry (William Ingram) ride towards the bonfire on their motorcycles. Ray advises that the riders enter Leybourne Road from Castlehaven Road after passing beneath the railway viaduct.

Gabriel walks through the dark streets before bumping into a newcomer to the area. The corner of Hawley Street and Leybourne Road with the Stag's Head public house to the right.

The former Stag's Head in Hawley Road which closed in 2004 and has since been converted into flats. Aidan McManus provides the picture.

A Policeman watches as Les, Tim and Jerry ride away to get their friends. The street sign under the bridge reads Hawley Road.

A gang of white youths appear at the street corner. The junction of Hawley Street and Leybourne Road with the Stag's Head to the right.

Noticing the strangers, mothers start to gather their children and to leave the bonfire. What was then waste ground between Leybourne Road and the railway viaduct carrying the line between Kentish Town West and Camden Road stations.

As they walk towards the bonfire, a Man (Thomas Baptiste) listens to his Girlfriend (Barbara Windsor) as she moans about being hungry.

Searching for Peter's home, Kathie walks along the street. Hawley Road turns to pass under the railway to the left while Leybourne Road continues into the background.

Kathie enters the property where Peter lives next door to Gabriel and Judy. Hawley Road with the North London Line railway viaduct in the right distance.

Looking past 52a Hawley Road towards the viaduct by Aidan, who used to live at 52a.

As the white youths taunt the crowd around the bonfire, Jubilee drives up in his Ford Zephyr.

The louts stop Jubilee's car and begin to threaten him. This is the corner of Hawley Street and Leybourne Road with the railway viaduct wall straight ahead.

After a fight breaks out around the bonfire, Judy Gomez (Ann Lynn) looks back as an ambulance approaches. Ray places this as looking along Leybourne Road towards Castlehaven Road with the two terraced buildings on the right set adjacent to the railway bridge.

And finally, a view of the background buildings from 2008 before they were demolished seven years later. Image copyright Google Streetview.