Innocent Sinners

Mr Bates (Toke Townley) who tends the gardens of Markham Square, Chelsea SW3 leaves them for the day. 37 and 38 Markham Square, London SW3 in the background.

This is taken just outside the private garden square/rectangle. SJ

As he does so, the camera pans up to the top floor of No 37 to see Olivia Chesney (Flora Robson) receiving bad news from her doctor (Andrew Cruickshank).

With such news she looks out of her window to see busy streets that she finds “so rich, rich in all the things she has never had.” The junction of Vauxhall Bridge Road and Churton Street with Warwick Way running off to the right, London SW1

Taken from ground level. Longmore House has replaced the buildings to the right and Churton Street has been swallowed up by pedestrianization. SJ.

A brighter day with sun flare. SJ

It is in those streets we see, ‘life’ and a group of boys making their way across the road noisily compared to the orderly column of school girls in the opposite direction. Looking south down Vauxhall Bridge Road from the junction with Rochester Row.

Trees dominate this section of Vauxhall Bridge Road

They reach the pavement……….. Vauxhall Bridge Road and Churton Street off.

The bank, also seen briefly in 'Hunted', and the Post Office still stand. SJ.

The bank, Bank House, succumbed, in 2022, to a Japanese noodle chain Taro with an official address of 1 Churton Street. SJ

………….. before crossing further. Looking east across Vauxhall Bridge Road from Churton Street. A similar view is seen in 'Echo of Barbara'.

Bank House was kept in the redesign. SJ.

And, opposite, there was another bank HSBC at 166 Vauxhall Bridge Road whose vacancy was filled by Foxton's years ago. SJ

Here we see Sparkey (Brian Hammond) with his mum (Marianne Stone) who is selling newspapers. Churton Street with, at the time, Lillington Street off to the left. 7 Churton Street, the shoe repairers can also be seen in 'Echo of Barbara'.

Nos. 5 & 7 have been cleared in favour of Longmoore Gardens playground. SJ

Sparkey sees something on the pavement as people get off a bus, and makes a dash to pick it up. What was 5 Churton Street.

This is off angle but I thought it would be helpful to see how it all now fits together. The supports to George Eliot House which runs over Churton Street are next to the back of Bank House with the playground with painted blue flooring now fill no. 5's footprint. SJ

It is not long before Lovejoy (June Archer) snatches it from him. ‘Bank House’ still survives as part of the premises.

Pillars holding up George Eliot House over the north part of Churton Street impede a better angle. SJ

And runs off. Churton Street with, at the time, Lillington Street off to the left again. A reverse point of view seen in 'Hunted'.

Difficult to get the "now" but the Churton Street and Tachbrook Street corner is the same. In 2017 George Philips kindly noticed I'd muddled Churton with Charlwood. The same corner is seen in 'Echo of Barbara' and this comparison only shows a third of the original on the right. SJ

I managed to improve on my shot 17 years ago by shifting the surviving corner and terrace of Churton Street with Tachbrook Street to the right. SJ

She soon encounters the boys, some of whom do their best to trip her up. Despite the likelyhood of the action taking place in and around identified streets it has taken all this time and the deduction work of Ron Glenister to establish the action being outside 42 Tachbrook Street, SW1, looking as it were north west.

Keeping her feet she makes her way to Warwick Square Mews, Pimlico SW1, here looking west/northwest towards the corner of 2 Clarendon Street. Discovered by Greg Mishevski. A local resident remembers the shop as a charity bric-a-brac.

Now shot by SJ.

…….. to find that she has acquired a packet of seeds. A separate mews just to the west of Warwick Square Mews, called ‘West Mews’ located off West Warwick Place, Pimlico SW1. Looking northeast towards left from the corner of 4 West Warwick Place. This house is on West Warwick Place at the junction with Clarendon Street. Discovered by Greg Mishevski.

Now shot by SJ.

But soon the ‘Malone’ daughters attempt to take them from her, until their mother comes and disrupts the scene. West Mews located off West Warwick Place, Pimlico SW1

Lovejoy makes her way ‘home’, she lives with Vincent (David Kossoff) and his wife (Barbara Mullen) as her mother abandoned her for a supposed ‘theatrical touring life’. 28 Churton Street with ‘Marchants’ at No 26

Now a travel agents, no. 28, with Marchants as Chimes, no. 26... Jackie Chan was here filming 'The Foreigner' in 2016. SJ

Chimes closed in 2015 and is now Gail's. Trees were planted in 2017 and have grown up so much I had to stand a little closer. SJ

When a letter is received from her mother to say that, yet again, she will not be coming to see her, she runs off crying. Having read the instructions regarding planting she dolefully plays with the soil in the central gardens. Markham Square, SW3 with No 37 in the background found by Greg Mishevski.

Now. SJ

Again, as in comparison 1, this is taken from the public side of the railings enclosing Markham Square. SJ

While Mr Bates tends to the gardens…….Markham Square Gardens.

Angela Chesney (Catherine Lacey) leaves her sister Olivia and crosses the road to challenge Lovejoy as to what she is doing. Outside 37 Markham Square looking at 31 to 35. Found by Greg Mishevski.

Now by SJ

The same terrace is intact. SJ

She runs/skips off, shortly to come across Lillington Street, now absorbed within the Lillington and Longmoore Garden Estate. With thanks to George Phillips, a Pimlico resident residing in Dallas TX, whose friend Barry Walsh lived on Lillington Street, filming took place outside his house No 24

No. 24 would have been on my left here and this looks north which also ties in with the shadows cast in the original. SJ

……to talk with Mr Isbister (John Rae) who is tending his plants outside his basement flat and discusses planting and tending to them afterwards. She tells him that she is going to have a real garden. 24 Lillington Street, now absorbed within the Lillington and Longmoore Garden Estate

This is the best one can do to show the current front gardens in the estate which face what was Lillington Street. SJ

She investigates likely places. Finding a suitable place amongst the bomb ruins…… Aegis Grove, SW8, South Lambeth Goods Depot mid ground and, of course, Battersea Power Station in the background.

……. she realises that she will need some tools. A hand fork and trowel is going to cost her 2/6d, but she doesn’t have that. Looking across to 36 Moreton Street, SW1

Indeed back to Pimlico, 36 Moreton Street.

Maybe if she sings in the streets people will give her money. A passer by declined but Olivia Chesney threw 6d from her upstairs window. The black painted house at ground floor level is 9 Markham Square, Chelsea, SW3 4UY. The houses shown in the then picture from left to right are: 8 (part), 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 Markham Square. Looking west/northwest. Info from Greg.

Now by SJ

Not a great deal of change here since my last visit. SJ

Without tools she cannot make her garden. Lovejoy is sitting on the wall in Aegis Grove but the rest of the shot is a composition, the structure of which can be viewed via the link in the Header Section of this film.

Church bells ring and Lovejoy is drawn to the church. Sacred Heart Church, Horseferry Road, SW1 Also seen in ‘Q Planes’, Capture 1.

A slightly wider shot for context. SJ

And stares at the renovation target for church repairs. Sacred Heart Church, Horseferry Road to the right looking across to Elverton Street.

There's not much to match here except for the curve of the road. SJ

Inside the church she rises to the temptation to take 2/- from the collection box. Sacred Heart Church, Horseferry Road

As in two captures ago, a wider shot to show the remodelling. SJ

She is now able to afford the tools and prepare her garden. Unfortunately, Sparkey sees her and runs off to tell the boys what she is doing on ‘their territory’. Another composition shot as the gasholder would not be visible at that distance or angle from Aegis Grove.

Lovejoy realises that she needs a net to keep the cats off and steals one off a pram. The corner of Churton Street and Belgrave Road, SW1

They sell a little more booze there now.

Her mother has ‘come back’ but has a ‘visitor’ so Lovejoy is unable to enter her bedroom. Vincent makes her comfortable in the back of his shop and the following morning takes some ‘clean air’ with her. Outside 5 Cheyne Walk, London SW3

Cheyne Walk, SW3. SJ.

They talk of ‘taste’, good fashion and people with money, the type of clientele that he is seeking for his restaurant. Passing 7 Cheyne Walk. Also seen in 'Theatre of Blood', 'Scandalous' and 'Goodbye Gemini'.

Now. SJ

Whilst walking they stop to view an ‘Italian’ garden and Lovejoy decides that that is what she wants. 16 Cheyne Walk. The Blue Plaque recognises the home of Dante Rossetti and Algernon Swinburne

They wander back to ‘real life’. To find that her mother had left, and her garden was growing nicely. Cheyne Walk, SW3 looking west shot from the corner with Cheyne Gardens, hence they clearly retraced their footsteps for this ‘cut’ sequence.

Now. SJ

Sparkey tells the boys that Lovejoy has a garden on ‘their land’ and they run off to destroy it. Churton Street as they run off down Lillington Street.

A little further advanced down the old Lillngton Street, taken from the keypad gate which separates it from Churton Street. SJ

She bites the arm of their leader Tip (Christopher Hey), runs off, and the gang chase her ……. Lillington Street returning to Churton Street.

……..through the streets. She returns home crying. Looking south along Churton Street with Tachbrook Street off to the right.

Now. SJ

A brighter shot with some shrouding on the corner. SJ

Tip appears to take compassion on her, returns her fork and offers to find her another area, it turns out to be in the grounds of the bombed church. From the Church of the Sacred Heart, Horseferry Rd., looking across to Maunsel St. and Regency Place to its right.

Now. SJ

The corner café is still going strong. SJ

Charles (Lyndon Brook) and Liz (Susan Beaumont) arrive at the church when we learn he is a Trustee of his uncle’s church restoration foundation. Looking down Regency Street, SW1 from the Church of the Sacred Heart, Horseferry Rd. SW1. The restaurant remains a restaurant to this day.

Just a small pan to the left from the previous capture.

Lovejoy, who is in the church paying a repayment instalment, endears herself to Liz and Charles and watches them turn around and drive off back down Horseferry Road. The toilets in the center of Regency Place survive to this day.

With a couple of cafés and a free loo, this is a popular stop for cabbies. SJ

And if her prayers are answered, to Vncent’s restaurant. But here they are seen here travelling north in Churton Street. A still of this road view rescued by Stuart Rose can be viewed via a Header Section link.

Now. SJ

A brighter day, a narrower road and more trees. SJ

Oh no! They have driven past….. Outside 112 Horseferry Rd with much of the church bombed in 1944 still in tact.

Now with the church rebuilt in 1962/3, still called Sacred Heart. SJ.

A much closer match than my previous effort. SJ

…….but shortly to back up. Churton Street again with Churton Place off to the left.

The trees obscure the row here. SJ

Tip and Sparkey get fed up with waiting for Lovejoy who stayed at the restaurant the whole time that Charles and Liz were there. They walk off. St. Georges Conservative Club remains at 32 Churton Street.

Now. SJ

This is a shop closer to the club. SJ

Lovejoy visits Mr Isbister again and he gives her a seed catalogue, but clearly she needs more soil, like that in the Square. As Capture 20, 34 Lillington Street, all now absorbed within the Lillington and Longmoore Garden Estate

The only thing in common is the sunny day where Lillington Street used to be. SJ

With uprooted plants and missing soil the Square’s Garden Committee, Mr Donaldson (Derek Prentice), Bates, Admiral (John Longden), Angela and Olivia meet and decide that Bates must sleep in the shed. Markham Square Gardens with 37 Markham Square mid background.

Olivia covers up identifiable foot prints. Her property No 37 in the background.

With the use of his fathers horse drawn truck,………The bombed Church of the Sacred Heart, Horseferry Road and what is now ‘Cardinal Hume Charity Shop’ at 110.

Now. SJ

Zooming in somewhat for an improved match. SJ

………. Tip provides more soil. Horseferry Road looking towards Regency Street.

Regency Street. SJ.

The Royal Oak thrives. SJ

As she moves the soil across the road she suddenly sees Charles and Liz approaching ………. Horseferry Road, looking towards Elverton Street.

Elverton Street and Horseferry. SJ.

From the correct side of Horseferry Road. SJ

.....and starts to act ‘innocent’. Looking east down Horseferry Road from Church of the Sacred Heart.

Now. SJ

For those who are thirsty, The Barley Mow is on the left and The Loose Box on the right. SJ

Lovejoy sees Vincent across the road and signals to him that ‘his customers’ have returned. ‘E. Dearman’ was at 106 Horseferry Road.

The estate agents has enjoyed a long residency here. SJ

Charles offers Lovejoy a ride in his car. Looking south down Regency Street from the Church of the Sacred Heart, Horseferry Rd.

The row of shops is now a taxi rank but the loo, ever rarer each year in London, is still there. in 2017 George Phillips mentions that it is known locally as "The Scent Bottle" and it stands on Flat Iron Square. SJ

Again, a tighter match than my previous comparison. SJ

She is delivered back………Churton Street looking across to Charlwood Place.

The corner of Charlwood Place. SJ.

An unchanged corner apart from pavement extension. SJ

…………having been given the miniature rose that Charles had given to Liz. Churton Street opposite Charlewood Place looking south across Belgrave Road to see Denbigh Street going off left and Gloucester Street straight ahead right.

Now. SJ

This may well be the same lamppost. SJ

This time they do not frequent ‘Vincents’. Churton Street looking north to Tachbrook Street

Now. SJ

The road now looks like a tight squeeze. SJ

Lovejoy watches them drive off further. Churton Street looking north and a closer view of the previous capture.

This shows the 70s development of the Lillington Gardens estate. SJ.

Unchanged from 2009, but considerably more so from 1958. SJ

Under dead of night Lovejoy, Tip and Sparkey raid the Garden of more soil, but are caught by Bates and the Police. Markham Square circa the entrance gate.

Soon to be before the Magistrate. The decision of the Court is that she should be taken into care. Unidentified location or perhaps a set.

She runs. Churton Street outside her ‘home’, ‘Vincents’ at No 28

And runs. The corner of Tachbook Street and Churton Street.

Now.SJ

To tell Tip, but Mrs Malone ( Pauline Delaney) will only let him see her if they are both have an adult with them. Also seen in ‘Expresso Bongo’. This housing estate was called Cambridge Buildings in Thorndike Street, Pimlico, SW1. “I lived in these flats and can remember the film being made. I have been trying to find a picture of where I lived; it no longer exists as it is now Lillington Gardens”. Information from Patsy Terry née Lawless with our thanks.

And this confirms Patsy's tip. St James the Less still stands and is just visible on the left of the then. SJ

Lovejoy pushed a note to Olivia Chesney asking that she be her support. 37 Markham Square

Olivia willingly agrees and visits ‘Vincents’, now closed and for sale, to collect her. Outside 28 Churton Street with Churton Place going off left.

Now. SJ

The brick on the corner of Churton Place has been whitened. SJ

Angela takes Lovejoy to the ‘Home of Compassion’ and Miss Roberts (Grace Arnold). St James the Less, Moreton Street.

Now a primary school. SJ.

Rather too much contrast on this bright day. SJ

Bulldozers and demolition workers ruin the church and Lovejoy’s garden but Tip has rescued the rose, ‘their rose’. St James the Less, Moreton Street.

One of the few buildings surviving the Lillington Gardens development. SJ.

The gates and railing have been cleared of growth. SJ

With Tip, Lovejoy takes the rose for Olivia to care for, but was not told that she had died during the night. Approaching 37 Marham Square, left of center.

Now. SJ

Taken from in front of the garden's railings. SJ

The ‘will’ of Olivia sees Lovejoy released to the care of Mr and Mrs Vincent (Barbara Mullen)…. St James the Less, Moreton Street.

The similar scene today. SJ

……who themselves, thanks to Olivia also have a happier future….. Unidentified location but some definitive windows on the side street.

…….and all that brings them as a family group. In the background is 77 Wilton Road on the corner of Longmoore Street, found by Greg.

Now. SJ

Businesses continue to change. SJ

Lovejoy skips off to remain happily ‘cocky and independent’. As Capture 10, Churton Street with, at the time, Lillington Street off to the left again.

Again no more Lillington Street to snap. SJ.

In this update I've managed to capture more of the left, all rebuilt. SJ