Breakout

Taking leave from his regular job after receiving a phone call from Frank Chandler, George Munro (Lee Patterson) arrives home where his wife Rose is waiting. Looking south on York Road in Aldershot, Hampshire.

Munro visits Chandler's office where he is briefed on a job to break fraudster John Arkwright out of gaol. Barclays Bank at the corner of High Street and Belmont Road in Uxbridge, Middlesex located by Joe Gibbons.

On a damp day, Antony Blair found a changed backdrop at the location.

A Humber Hawk turns and comes to halt opposite the prison where Arkwright is serving his seven year sentence. The long demolished East Cavalry Gates leading to the former Warburg Barracks in Aldershot.

Getting out of the car, Munro and Chandler's associate Farrow observe a delivery van arriving at the prison gate. Looking south on Barrack Road, Aldershot.

A very different view today. (SR)

From behind the Humber's raised bonnet, Munro and Steven Farrow (Terence Alexander) continue to watch as the van comes to a stand. High Street in Aldershot, opposite the Queen Hotel.

A Prison Officer (Joby Blanshard) opens the door to delivery driver Joe Woolard (Tom Naylor) from Morgan's Supplies. East Cavalry Gates at the west end of Aldershot's High Street.

John Leete, aided by Chris Wilson, captures the location where the VR stone emblems now sit in the street as a reminder of the gates that once stood here.

With Rose believing that her husband is off to work, Munro leaves the house. The property stands on York Road, Aldershot.

Carrying a holdall containing old clothes, the council architect sets out to put the first part of his plan into operation. The west side of York Road in Aldershot with Queen's Road in the top right background... Note the white gabled building on the right then see the cap25 comparison.

James Curley avoids the parked vehicles by moving to the pavement.

Masquerading as George Matthews and having changed clothes, Munro arrives at Morgan's Supplies where he gets a job as a driver.

When regular driver Joe has an "accident", Munro takes over his round. Grosvenor Road, Aldershot with Barrack Road in the background and the rear of the Queen Hotel to the right.

The changed background dominates James Curley's comparison.

With the day's deliveries over, Munro arrives back at the yard before measuring the inside of the grocery van.

The next morning, Munro sets out with groceries for the prison. To the left is The White Hart public house that survived until August 2015 at 84 Queens Road in Aldershot, Hampshire.

On a visit to Aldershot, Jim Curley revisited the location.

Farrow directs Munro into the warehouse where a false bulkhead is to be installed in the van. This is looking in the opposite direction at the same yard used for Morgan's Supplies' depot.

Deliveries are resumed in the van now fitted with a concealed compartment. To the right is The White Hart at the corner of Queen's Road and Church Street.

The street is still recognisable in Jim Curley's comparison view.

Munro nears the prison. Facing west on Alexandra Road in Aldershot.

A few buildings are now missing from the location as James Curley's view shows.

Looking through the windscreen of the Morris LD onto Barrack Road from the junction with Grosvenor Road.

With assistance from Chris Wilson, John Leete found the same section of road.

The gates are opened for the regular delivery. Through the gateway stands The Queen Hotel at the end of High Street, Aldershot.

Prison Officer (Leonard White) asks Munro to get out of the cab while other Officers check over the van. At the time of filming, the East Cavalry, or Warburg, Barracks had recently been purchased by Aldershot Borough Council.

Satisfied with the check, the van is allowed to continue toward the kitchen store room. Outside the Soldier's Quarters and Stables in East Cavalry Barracks with the Queen Hotel visible in the right distance.

O'Quinn (Dermot Kelly) comes out of the kitchen and sees the van outside. Warburg Barracks were demolished during 1959.

Trustees empty the vehicle while the Prison Officer and a nervous Munro chat.

With Arkwright secreted in the hidden compartment, the van is searched before being allowed to leave the prison.

A Prison Officer (Leonard Fenton) stops Munro after his colleague notices that the van's tailgate isn't secure. Looking onto High Street in Aldershot, Hampshire.

As the alarm is raised, the van speeds from the prison. The west end of High Street with the Imperial Hotel to the left of centre at the corner of Grosvenor Road and Barrack Road.

John Leete provides this view and remarks that "Much of Aldershot's original Victorian Army Town has been demolished including the famous cavalry barracks and Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing School. Token buildings have been left but the integrity and history of this once great community has been lost."

The van's number is circulated to the police as Munro heads for the North Circular Road. Facing north-east on Queen's Road with Church Street immediately on the right.

Still recognisable in this comparison in which Jim Curley points out "The half white building in the centre background, to the left of the distant blue bins, has an interesting history. It was formerly the location of the Palais Ballroom where in December 1961 the Beatles played a gig at which only a handful of people turned up. Within a year they had their first hit single."

Chandler's Henchmen wait for Arkwright and Munro. Outside The Van & Horses public house stood at 75 Cowley Road in Uxbridge, Middlesex.

Antony Blair explains that this comparison is quite hard to make out as the pub stood at right angles to the road. It stretched from the the lamp post and occupied a space that came half way across the road.

The red delivery van continues through north west London. Actually, Alexandra Road with the corner of Lime Street in the left background. A roundabout now occupies the site.

Munro pulls onto the pub car park where the Henchmen are waiting. The car park of The Van & Horses on Cowley Road, Uxbridge with properties on Austin Waye in the left background.

The bridge over Frays River and the houses in the background are masked by the willow trees in Antony's image.

A Henchman (Neil McCarthy) helps to transfer Arkwright from the van. To the right is the pathway that crosses Fray's River by bridge to reach Austin Waye.

Antony Blair took this comparison looking south towards the footbridge that spans Fray's River.

Leaving the delivery van behind, the Humber Hawk speeds away. Queen's Road, Aldershot with the corner of Lime Street to the centre and the towers of St. Joseph's church and Grosvenor Road Methodist church in the right distance.

Jim Curley found that just two properties remain at this end of the street.

A Policeman is almost knocked over by the getaway car.

The Police Officer (Reginald Hearne) records the registration number of the maroon and grey saloon.

The escape continues. Looking north on York Road, Aldershot with Queen's Road in the distance and West End Infant School to the right.

Easily recognisable in Jim Curley's comparison.

Facing north on Perowne Street in Aldershot.

Jim Curley replicates the scene.

The junction of Queen's Road and Perowne Street with The White Hart at the corner of Church Street in the right of centre distance.

The Humber is brought to a stand and Munro gets out to return to Rose and his job in town planning. Cowley Road in Uxbridge, Middlesex with properties at the eastern end of Wellington Road in the centre background. The whole area has been torn down to provide better housing and better roads.

Antony found a totally changed landscape.

Alerted to the breakout, a police car approaches the gang's rendezvous point. Looking north on Cowley Road, Uxbridge.

The same houses appear in Antony Blair's shot which includes a period Hillman Minx car as a bonus!

After examining the van and finding the compartment, the Inspector and his Sergeant return to the Wolseley. Outside The Van & Horses on Cowley Road in Uxbridge, then in Middlesex, now in Greater London.

Antony recreates the view along the road from the former pub.

The car swings off the car park to pursue the crooks. Cowley Road with the entrance of Cotswold Close to the bottom left. The Van & Horses, on the right, was closed and demolished in 1972 when Cowley Road was widened.

Before leaving the location, Antony took this shot looking south along Cowley Road from the corner of Cotswold Close.

Chandler's Henchmen help John Arkwright (John Paul) into the building where Farrow is waiting.