Girl on Approval

Stormount House, the children's home where a problematic Sheila waits for yet another family to take her home. With different spelling, this was Stormont House on Glenton Road in Lee, Lewisham. Alan Mitchell advises that it has now been demolished and a small housing estate built.

Stormount House, now Callaghan Close captured by Deborah Wallis.

John (James Maxwell) and Anne Howland (Rachel Roberts) arrive at the home to meet with Mary Gardner. The background buildings stand on Lee High Road SE13.

Deborah advises "I had to take this from a slightly different angle as the tree that was presumably the bush in the original shot is now so huge it obscures the view. You can however just about make out the dormer window in the roof of the house in the right background, behind the leafless tree."

After agreeing that Sheila can initially stop over for a weekend, the Howlands drive home. Located by Paul Canty who advises that this is the junction of Winn Road with Ashdale Road in Lee SE12.

Alan Mitchell provides an up to date shot of the location having only recently realised that his family home was just 10 minutes away. (RL)

The camera follows as John steers into the driveway on Winn Road.

Alan Mitchell provides an up to date shot of the same location witnessing the growth in car ownership. (RL)

The car is parked and the couple get out as a neighbour leaves his house. Paul Canty identifies this as opposite Ashdale Road on Winn Road in SE12.

Alan provides this shot of the house, having the confirmation of the neighbour that it was the house used in the film. He was also able to ascertain that internally it remained exactly the same as in the film, "completely untouched". (RL)

After Anne gets a frosty reply when greeting their less than friendly neighbour, John crosses the garden to join her.

Another shot from Alan in what is now a 20mph zone. (RL)

On the way to Mr. and Mrs. Howland's house, Mary Gardner brings her Mini to a halt as Sheila opens the door during an outburst. Exford Road in SE12, located with help from Paul Canty.

It makes a change not to have a pole in the way of a "now" shot as I am sure Alan Mitchell would agree. (RL)

Leaving a department store, Sheila (Annette Whiteley) walks with Anne and her children Stephen (John Dare) and William (Michael Clarke). Looking along Granville Grove, beneath Chiesmans link bridge, towards Lewisham High Street with the still standing Joiners Arms to the right of centre. Una Allcock tells us that she worked in Chiesmans at the time of filming and reminds us that there is a scene shot in the toy department which occupied the basement of the store.

Deborah Wallis took this view noting that the wall of the police station obscures most of the scene but the altered buildings on the far side of the High Street are still visible.

Anne looks over and notices that Sheila is holding a watch. Granville Grove in SE13. This end of the road no longer exists, having been replaced by the new Police Station which occupies the site of Chiesmans department store. Una continues "Some of the staff were used as extras and they all received £3.50 for an afternoon's work. A lot of the film crew bought expensive musical toys, that we could never sell at the time, and we thought they were really rich paying £6 or £7 for a furry rabbit that spun round at a time when my wages as a fifteen year old were just £3 a week."

Phil Burkin explains that Chiesmans furniture depository would have stood where the blue door of the electricity sub-station stands now and the doorway of the store would have been about 20 feet beyond the police station wall.

Sheila handles the stolen watch before Mrs. Howland returns it to the store. Granville Grove in Lewisham with Lockmead Road in the distance.

Deborah had to take this further along Granville Close as the wall of the police station prevented a true comparison but the same background properties still stand at the end of the road.

The Rex Cinema on Lewisham High Street opened in 1950 and closed in 1986. Demolition took place in 1988 and the site became occupied by Kings Hall Mews.

And now a hotel graces the location of the coal yard next to the cinema as seen in this image by Deborah Wallis.

A repeat of the previous capture featuring the Rex Cinema on Lewisham High Street.

Phil Burkin adds this more precise view of the cinema's location.

John walks past the cinema with Sheila and decides to take her inside. In the left background is Plough Bridge which carries the railway east from Lewisham station to Blackheath. The bridge has since been replaced.

A little off angle, this is the view now by Deborah Wallis.

On some days, Sheila walks home from school. The entrance to Horn Park on Winn Road in Lee. Located with the assistance of Paul Canty.

Alan Mitchell provides this shot, witnessing that the Park is still there. (RL)

The camera follows Sheila as she turns onto the road where the Howlands live. Paul Canty recognised this as Winn Road, London SE12.

Alan's camera follows to the same location. (RL)

On other days Mr. Howland picks Sheila up from school. Northbrook School on Taunton Road, Lee in SE12 located by Paul Holmes who attended the school between 1970 and 1977 when all of the features seen in the capture were still in place.

The same location now captured by Paul Holmes.

Sheila gets into the car as her classmates look on. Paul Holmes identifies this as Northbrook School, Taunton Road in Lee. Paul adds that "The school was demolished around 2008 and it's replacement opened in 2011."

The same background houses stand in the right background of Paul's comparison.

After meeting Stephen from school, Anne takes her boys to a toy shop to spend ten shillings given by an Aunt. Originally thought to be the gates of Manor Park opposite Northbrook Road, Christopher Bray identifies the location as the Taunton Road entrance to Manor House Gardens in SE12.

The same entrance now from Christopher Bray.

Anne arrives home to find Sheila already waiting at the front door.

Enduring a wet and chilly day to capture shots for us, this is the same background view from Alan without trespass. (RL)

Following a fight at school, Sheila sits alone with her thoughts before wandering off. Remembering playing on a bench like this as a child. Phil Burkin is pretty sure that this is Blackheath, near a feature called "Whitfield's Mount", facing east with traffic moving along Prince Charles Road in the background.

Phil captured a similar view now explaining "Imagine the scene without the cars and without the pond, which is rain fed and comes and goes. It doesn't look like it was there in 1961 and even though I remember it being pretty constant in the 70s it did dry up for a long time in the mid-80s. Looks like it's making a comeback." Phil adds that the view should be about right as there's a double decker bus in the background of the screen capture and Prince Charles Road, along with Prince of Wales Road in the distance, are the only roads that take bus routes across the heath.

Walking the streets, the teenager passes the children's home. Stormont House on Glenton Road SE13 has since been demolished to be replaced by Callaghan Close.

Properties on Callaghan Close taken by Deborah Wallis.

Evening draws in and Sheila finds herself in town after deciding not to return to the Holland's house. In front of St. Stephen's church on Lewisham High Street with the Gaumont Palace cinema visible across the road.

Deborah Wallis tells us that the road layout has been altered several times since filming and its now difficult to get the exact view. What was the road in the capture has been moved to the left and the remainder of the area is currently is a building site. Deborah adds that "I was standing with St. Stephen's church behind me and you can see the railings which replaced the wall."

A repeat of the previous capture taken in front of St. Stephen's church on Lewisham High Street.

Standing in a more accurate position to match the capture, Phil Burkin took this view of the later, raised foot bridge over the River Quaggy, looking towards Lewisham railway station. The cinema entrance would have been roughly where the crane and the bus stop are in the centre of the shot.

The troubled youngster comes across a fish and chip shop where she buys a portion of her favourite food.

Sheila looks across as a young man meets his girlfriend outside the chip shop.

A suspicious looking Man takes an interest in Sheila and begins to follow her. Paul Holmes carried out extensive research and found Evans in the right background which stood at 50 Lewisham High Street on the corner of Rennell Street while in the centre background is the 'Black & White Milk Bar' at 56 Lewisham High Street.

Paul returned to the location in on a damp June morning for a better view.

After informing the Police, John is driven around the streets looking for the runaway. Deborah Wallis recognised Suttons Radio shop on Lewisham High Street in SE13.

Suttons has moved premises by a few doors in Deborah's view and now occupies the former Market Tavern public house.

Bus queues are scrutinised. To the right is the Gaumont Palace Cinema on Loampit Vale, Lewisham. Having over 3000 seats, the cinema was closed in 1981 and demolished ten years later.

Taken from the safety of the pavement, Deborah Wallis advises that an exact match isn't possible unless you stand in the middle of a very busy road.

Pedestrians are checked. Phil Burkin's intricate research has led him to discover that this is looking southward on Lewisham High Street, outside St. Saviour's church.

Phil's comparison shows that the white copings of the wall still exist.

John discovers Sheila just as the suspicious Man is about to make his move.

When he and his wife decide to carry on fostering Sheila, John sees Mary Gardner (Ellen McIntosh) to the front gate after a visit. Winn Road identified by Paul Canty.

The house captured now by Alan Mitchell. (RL)

Mary gets into her car and crosses her fingers for Sheila and the Howlands. Facing eastward on Winn Road in Lee SE12. Identified by Paul Canty.

Alan used his own car as the prop for this shot. (RL)