Black Panther, The (1977)

Morning dawns on Donald Neilson (Donald Sumpter) as he runs with a backpack and his pockets filled with rocks. Pitstone Windmill, Pitstone in Buckinghamshire with the chimneys of Pitstone cement works dominating the horizon. The cement works closed in 1990s and the land has been redeveloped for residential use. The mill also appears in 'The Cherry Picker'.

Avoiding trespass, Lionel and Cynthia Sear remark "Surely one of the most dramatic transformations that you will find on ReelStreets". Whatever the redevelopment is, it is certainly not obvious, so let us be grateful. Now owned by the National Trust it is in safe hands. (RL)

Neilson arrives home after attempting an armed robbery at a sub-post office in Lancashire. Macfarlane Road, London W12 7JZ found by Neil Rigby. (RL)

About here looking north. SJ

The former soldier turns his key in the front door. Macfarlane Road, London W12 7JZ found by Neil Rigby and also seen later. (RL)

Some satellite dishes have been added to the row. SJ

In his Jeep, Neilson drives into Highley. Neil Rigby provides the location, Crossoaks Lane, Ridge, Potters Bar in Hertfordshire EN63LH. (RL)

Denis Hoare took to the countryside to find that nearly 50 years of tree and vegetation growth dictated where he could actually include the house in a photograph. (RL)

With kidnapping in mind, Neilson makes his way through the Shropshire village. Crossoaks Lane, Ridge, Potters Bar, EN63LH again says Neil. (RL)

Althought tempted to take the shot from within his car he had to take the picture from the pavement to see the house at all, even then only the chimneys are visible. (RL)

A pub is passed. Rather more obvious is 'The Old Guinea' public house on Crossoaks Lane in Ridge, Potters Bar EN63LH identified by Neil. (RL)

Not hindered by vegetation here, but Denis noticed that the tree on the left in the screen capture, with the curved trunk, is still there and shows in his shot here. (RL)

Neilson slows down as he passes the Whittle family's coach business. Whittle coaches, Deeves Hall Lane corner with Crossoaks Lane, Ridge Potters Bar EN63LH and opposite 'The Old Guinea' pub Neil advises. (RL)

Not a 'Whittle' coach in sight, but there were a couple of cars. It provided a clearer view for you Denis. (RL)

After making notes, Neilson watches Lesley Whittle (Debbie Farrington) as she enters the driveway of her home.

In Harrogate, the Sub-Postmaster (Edwin Apps) cashes two postal orders that were stolen during an earlier robbery as Neilson looks around, preparing for his next raid.

Neilson reads a poster offering a £5,000 reward for information about the killing of the Sub-Postmaster in Harrogate.

Turning a corner, Neilson sees a group of youths.

One of the group is continually beaten by the others.

The murderer ignores the victim's plight and continues on his way.

An incident is recalled when Neilson became abusive to a man who had stopped to help him after a fall in the street.

Neilson walks from the panther's cage at Dudley Zoo. The zoo on Castle Hill in Dudley, West Midlands dating from 1937.

Peter Faizey provides this comparison showing quite a few changes including the repositioning of the steps and a make-over for the Grade II listed modernist enclosure in the centre background.

After gathering information about the zoo's layout, Neilson leaves. This is the entrance and exit of the zoo on Castle Hill, Dudley.

It still is the entrance and exit. (PW)

A planned route is written down. Outside Dudley Zoo on Castle Hill.

Not a great deal has altered in the intervening years. (PW)

Moving along from the zoo, Neilson takes note of where telephone boxes stand. This is the zoo's coach park on Birmingham Road, Dudley.

Taken from the middle of Castle Gate Island. (PW)

Across from the coach park stands the former bus garage on Birmingham Road, Dudley which was demolished in 1993 to be replaced by Castle Gate Island. Donna Flavell recalls that while working at Dudley Zoo, she and a friend were given a role in the production, running between the telephone boxes while directions for the ransom delivery were being given.

Again, an approximation of the location taken from the middle of the roundabout. (PW)

Another armed robbery, this time in Higher Baxenden near Accrington. The exact address Neil tells us is 62/64 Blanch Lane, South Mimms in Hertfordshire EN63PD. (RL)

Denis Hoare visited Blanche Lane to find that the white picket fence is still there, but no longer white. The door canopy is the same, but the second window to the left of the door has been enlarged to match the others. (RL)

The Sub-Postmaster's children run to neighbours after their father is shot dead. Again, 62/64 Blanch Lane, South Mimms. (RL)

Drawing our attention away from the parked car Denis highlights the fact that the difference between the painted and unpainted fence and the enlarged window second on the left of the door referred to in the previous Capture are much clearer here. (RL)

A recce is carried out to find a suitable place to hide his kidnap victim. The junction of First Avenue, The Avenue and Boathorse Road in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire.

Now being called 'The Black Panther', Neilson steers his Jeep from the main road. This roadway leads off Ravenscliffe Road at the end of Boathorse Road in Kidsgrove.

Gregor Baddley visited the same location.

The vehicle is brought to a stand in the deserted car park at Bathpool Park.

From a similar viewpoint captured by Gregor.

The camera pans across Bathpool Park. To the left is the railway line leaving the new Harecastle Tunnel as it runs north from Stoke on Trent to Kidsgrove and on the right is Bathpool Park and Wood. The large rectangular area is a covered reservoir.

Gregor Baddley provides this comparison.

Donald Neilson surveys the landscape. Bathpool Park, Kidsgrove.

Maturing trees show the passage of time in Gregor's image.

The Yorkshireman walks along the pathway above the mouth of Harecastle Tunnel as a freight train passes below.

Gregor Baddley looks over the same parapet.

Leaving the path, Neilson walks alongside the railway line.

The winter sun casts Gregor's shadow.

A manhole is found before moving on. Bathpool Park, Kidsgrove is in the north of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

A sewer vent is noted. Bathpool Park near Kidsgrove.

Gregor Baddley found that the vent remains.

Neilson discovers a suitable hiding place. Bathpool Park with the railway line in the background.

The Black Panther follows his victim west along Crossoaks Lane westwards near to 'The Old Guinea' pub, Crossoaks Lane, Ridge, EN63LH. Neil is not having to walk far to assemble these locations. (RL)

Denis is a little concerned that he was perhaps a trifle off angle her, but content that the bent handrail and individual door canopy are both visible in this shot. (RL)

The young heiress crosses the road. Yes Neil, we get it....we are still in Crossoaks Lane, Ridge, EN63LH (RL)

And Denis now makes the point that he was still in Crossoaks Lane and quiet with traffic had time to absorb the facts; The big roof on the house on the left is a match, the chain link fencing on the right having been renewed recently and the road does indeed bend away to the right in the distance, although partially obscured by a car. (RL)

The camera tracks as Lesley starts to talk to her waiting friend. Out of shot to the right Neil tells us is 'The Old Guinea' public house, Crossoaks Lane, Ridge, Potters Bar EN63LH (RL)

Denis says "walking into the pub" the curved trunk of the tree mentioned in Capture 6 is clearer....does he mean "walking into" or "walking closer to"? (RL)

The two girls enter the pub. No longer out of shot to the right is 'The Old Guinea' public house, Crossoaks Lane, Ridge, Potters Bar EN63LH supporting Neil's identification. (RL)

Denis provides the answer, "Entering 'The Old Guinea' pub"...a well deserved pint, the one on us will have to wait. (RL)

Neilson walks along Coventry Street in Kidderminster, Worcestershire before entering the Swan Shopping Centre.

Ed Parsons provides this image of the same location.

Ed Parsons provides this capture of Neilson turning a corner to enter the Swan Centre.

The long closed Fosters outlet still bears its former name in Ed's modern view.

King Charles Square in The Swan Centre, Kidderminster with Sir Walter's Place to the left.

The Midlands Electricity Board showroom has been replaced by a Heron Foods supermarket in Ed Parsons' shot.

Two telephone boxes are found and their numbers taken down. King Charles Square, Kidderminster.

Ed Parsons notes that the telephone boxes, seating and flower beds have since disappeared.

With his plans almost complete, Neilson travels to London. Chalk Farm Underground station on Adelaide Road in London NW3.

Only a couple of real changes in this shot from Peter.

Having lied to his family that he's away working in Scotland, the violent criminal heads from the station. Adelaide Road in Chalk Farm NW3.

A sunnier day when Peter captured the same, rather bare entrance.

Looking through the window of a noisy café, Neilson scans the street outside. Geoff Dodd together with Anthony McKay locates the café at South Parade, Mollison Way, Burnt Oak, Edgware. The pediment of the shops opposite, as Neilson leaves, suggests this could well be No 48 as it is still an eatery (American Fried Chicken & Coffee Express). (RL)

A man locks his car before checking that it's secure. That looks like No 67 Mollison Way, Burnt Oak, Edgware says Geoff and Anthony. (RL)

Leaving the café, Neilson walks along the street trying car doors. Looking east along Mollison Way, the letter box remains, as does a telephone box witness Geoff and Anthony. (RL)

The thief runs when a dog starts barking as an unlocked vehicle's door is opened. South Parade, Burnt Oak, Edgware again says Geoff and Anthony, if no No 34 it is one either side. (RL)

The camera pans as Neilson continues to run. The camera pans, Geoff and Anthony say, across the flats here on the corner of Mollison Way South and Waltham Drive.

They provide a Google Earth View to support their finding. (RL)

Across the road another likely car is found. Wherever the car is 71 Mollison Way is behind Neilson point out Geoff and Anthony. (RL)

Using a bunch of keys, Neilson breaks into and steals the Morris before setting out on another robbery which ends in the murder of the Sub-Postmaster in Langley Green. Once again Geoff and Anthony say, here, looking over the roundabout further along Mollison Way where the end of restriction sign visible above the bus shelter can still be seen today. (RL)

On a day while her husband is still away, Irene Neilson (Marjorie Yates) walks slowly home. Macfarlane Road, London W12 7JZ found by Neil Rigby. See also Capture 52 (RL)

That looks like the same brick wall on the left. SJ

Irene greets her husband when unexpectedly finding him painting the house. 52 Macfarlane Road, London W12 7JZ found by Neil Rigby. See also Capture 52 (RL)

A white wall separates the front of the house from its neighbour. SJ

Having kidnapped the 17 year old Lesley Whittle from her Shropshire home, the Black Panther takes her to the drainage shaft that he discovered in Bathpool Park.

Neilson leaves his house after sending a ransom note to Lesley's Brother. Neil Rigby has established that Nelson is leaving 52 Macfarlane Road, London W12 7JZ with the now demolished tower block near the BBC centre stage. (RL)

A north-looking view now. SJ

The kidnapper crosses the road and gets into the stolen Morris 1100. Macfarlane Road, London W12 7JZ found by Neil Rigby. See also Capture 52 (RL)

The two residences on the right have maintained their distinction. SJ

The Black Panther drives back to the Midlands. Macfarlane Road, London W12 7JZ found by Neil Rigby. See also Capture 52 (RL)

Looking south: looks like a couple of trees didn't make it. SJ

In Kidderminster's Swan Shopping Centre Lesley's Brother (Andrew Burt) waits for a phone call from Nielson.

Neilson pauses when he sees youngsters around the phone boxes in Dudley.

Journalists approach Lesley's Brother as he waits for the call from Neilson. King Charles Square in Kidderminster.

Lesley's Brother drives to another phone box, this time nearer to Kidsgrove.

Two Police Officers on patrol drive towards a suspicious stranger. Here, Neil at last moves away from Ridge to the shopping parade, Hartforde Road, Borehamwood WD65HY. (RL)

Outside a chip shop, passers by watch as the two Officers struggle with Donald Nielson.

The Black Panther is captured.