Pleasure Garden, The

Leaving one of the best funerals that they've attended, Aunt Minerva (Jean Anderson) and Bess (Diana Maddox) head for the park. Looking along the pathway from Crystal Palace Park to Ledrington Road in SE19 with numbers 34 and 32 Anerley Hill in the right distance.

Nick Andrews (NA) provides this first of many comparison shots taken in and around Crystal Palace Park.

"What is your pleasure please, your favourite, private pleasure. Would you expect to find it in the open air, in a public park?" Miss Kellerman (Jill Bennett) admires Love. The Upper and Lower Terraces of Crystal Palace Park on Sydenham Hill with the statue Love by by Raffaelle Monti to the right.

A view of the background now. The steps are missing but were the left-side steps of a matching pair with arches in between. They were found at the extreme right (North end) of the terrace where the upper and lower terraces meet. (NA)

"Here, one at a time, come the curious strangers. Seeking what pleasures they can in a midsummer afternoon's daydream." Twenty four statues personifying Cities and Nations important to trade were placed along the stone balustrades, steps and projecting bastions of the Upper Terrace. Nick Andrews identifies this as South America by Raffaelle Monti standing on plinth 7.

Taken from the terrace with the remains of 'South America' to the right. (NA)

After a short pause, Mr. Nurmi (John Heawood) continues on his way. To the right stands Psyche with the Jar of Beauty by Bertel Thorwaldsen which, along with much of the statuary, was auctioned off in 1957.

The Lower Terrace, replacing the previous comparative shot of the Upper Terrace. The statues on the Upper Terrace were of Towns or Countries representing important areas for trade. (RL)

Cut to the giant bust of Sir Joseph Paxton sculpted by W. F. Woodington on which, Nick Andrews tells us, is sited on Grand Centre Walk where once a large circular fountain stood.

Paxton's head still looks down on passers by. (NA)

The camera tilts down to find Bess as she asks her Aunt if she may go on into the park.

Nick Andrews explains that this is the corner of the plinth as it is today in relation to Paxton's bust. However, Paxton's bust above has been rotated 180 degrees since the film was made so he now faces the sports centre and not the Palace site.

Bess passes all types of People enjoying themselves as they practice athletics, art and music amongst the serene surroundings that the park offers.

Paxton's bust can just be seen in the top centre of this view, behind the furthest lamp post. (NA)

Colonel Pall K. Gargoyle breaks up two Wrestlers telling them that they must behave like swans as he gestures towards two Ballet Dancers on a bandstand. The Bandstand at the western end of Grand Centre Walk in Crystal Palace Park located between the Upper and Lower Terraces.

Looking across the site of the Bandstand. (NA)

Next to the bandstand a Bass Player accompanies the dancing. Beside the Bandstand with steps to the Upper Terrace In the left background. Along with the Crystal Colonnade, the bandstand was later demolished.

A closer view of the steps by Nick Andrews who adds that, in the screen capture, the bass player's head obscures this newel.

Bess sits down and opens the heavy book that she has been carrying. To the right stands Hope by Raffaelle Monti. Various parts of Crystal Palace Park can be seen in ‘Play Up the Band’, ‘Time Without Pity’, ‘The Italian Job’, ‘Soapbox Derby’, ‘The Door in the Wall’ and ‘Our Mother’s House’.

The location today taken from ground level. The exact location is shown in the paper of additional images and detail that can be viewed via the link in the Header Section of this film. (RL)

Colonel Pall K. Gargoyle (John Le Mesurier) puts up signs forbidding anything that may be pleasurable.

The remnants of the far northern stair case. A rather poor off angle shot until a re-visit can be made. (RL)

Sam (Kermit Sheets) skips into view as the Colonel covers up statues and tells pleasure seekers that their clothing has to be correctly buttoned. The exact location is shown in the paper of additional images and detail that can be viewed via the link in the Header Section of this film. Height or a drone is necessary for a comparative shot. (RL)

After Aunt Minerva complains to the Colonel about Sam, the American is imprisoned. The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Memorial on its original site near the Bandstand. Nick Andrews informs us that the structure has also been known as HMS Crystal Palace and HMS Victory VI at the Crystal Palace Training Depot.

The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Trophy, as it's now known, in it's current position in the lower part of the park near Vale Gate and the sports centre.

Miss Kellerman sits on a plinth as more rules appear around the park.

The background remains recognisable.

Sam settles down in his prison. Identified by Nick Andrews this is known as Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Trophy and is an open-sided timber building featuring a ship's bell. The structure commemorates the men of the Royal Navy at the training depot HMS Victory VI at the Crystal Palace, 1914-1918.

Malcolm Tinnelly located the RNVR Trophy. "The low, single rail structure inside the original railings looks like it's been replaced and there's no sure way of knowing at which corner of the structure Sam was sitting."

The Colonel returns to his car. Nick Andrews identifies this as the remains of the Crystal Colonnade, earlier known as the Railway Colonnade, running from the southernmost wing of Crystal Palace to Crystal Palace Low Level railway station.

This is how the scene appears now with the corner to the Ledrington Road exit on the extreme left. (NA)

Mrs. Albion (Hattie Jacques) appears from a snack bar. Facing the entrance of number 2a Ledrington Road in Crystal Palace SE19.

A matching comparison shot from Nick Andrews. (NA)

Looking across the road, Mrs Albion spots the Colonel's hearse. Looking towards numbers 130 to 124 Anerley Road SE20, opposite Lullington Road.

Just below the railway bridge on Anerley Road captured by NA.

The camera pans to follow the hearse as it passes 122 Anerley Road.

This was taken in early June 2021 and evidently the building is being renovated though it's hard to see how as, at the very least, another storey seems to be in the process of being added. (NA)

The shot ends as the vehicle crosses the bridge at the SE20 / SE19 border taking Anerley Road over the railway running south from Crystal Palace station. Nick Andrews adds that the spire to the top right is that of St. Paul's Church on Hamlet Road which has since been demolished and rebuilt.

The railway bridge on Anerley Road now. (NA)

Mrs. Albion sets off to the park to see what Colonel Gargoyle has been up to. Numbers 2a and 1a Ledrington Road at the corner of Crystal Palace Station Road.

The premises are rather shabbier looking in Nick's comparison.

Unimpressed, Lord (Derek Hart) and Lady Ennui (Maxine Audley) watch the end of the ballet performance.

The steps, landing and balustrades are now missing but were the right-side steps of a matching pair with arches in between. These steps were found in the middle of the terrace where the Upper and Lower Terraces meet. (NA)

Driven by Miss Jennybelle, Mrs. Albion arrives in the park by car from which throws confetti. Alongside the remains of the Crystal Colonnade, identified by Nick Andrews, with the footbridge from the Canada Building to Crystal Palace Low Level station to the top left.

The Crystal Colonnade and the bridge connecting the railway station to the park have been swept away. (NA)

Trying to avoid each other, the dysfunctional Lord and Lady Ennui end up dancing. Nick Andrews explains that this is a landing on the central steps that connect the Upper and Lower Terraces.

Looking east across Crystal palace Park with the gap in the distant fence being the top of the Grand Central Staircase. (NA)

After enlivening Lord and Lady Ennui's dance, Mrs. Albion runs down a flight of steps towards one of the Colonel's posters . . . and tears it down..

Nick Andrews carried out further research of the site which led him to take this shot of the location at the extreme left, the southern end of the terrace where the upper and lower terraces meet, where these steps are now missing.

Artist Michael-Angelico walks past Miss Kellerman as she sits beneath a statue. The lower part of Dancing Girl by Antonio Canova stands on the plinth.

A similar view to one seen earlier, this is looking at the northern end of the Lower Terrace with the remaining central steps to the left. (NA)

Mrs. Albion admires one of Michael-Angelico's works of art. The statue in the background is that of Andromeda. (RL)

The exact location is shown in the paper of additional images and detail that can be viewed via the link in the Header Section of this film. (RL)

Race walker Mr. Nurmi sits wondering where he is going when Mrs. Albion turns up with a water pistol to speed him on his way. The statue is that of Amazon. (RL)

The exact location is shown in the paper of additional images and detail that can be viewed via the link in the Header Section of this film. (RL)

When Mrs. Albion frees Bess from her influence, Aunt Minerva makes her way to "the Government" to bring back the law. Looking west towards the junction of Anerley Hill, Church Road, Westow Hill and Crystal Palace Parade in SE19 with The White Swan public house to the right of centre.

The Crystal Palace itself may have gone but building in the town remain very much the same. The White Swan is now known as 'Westow House'. (RL)

Bess and Sam frolic amongst the ruins in the park.

My reasoning as to the location is shown in the Appendix to the paper of additional images and detail that can be viewed via the link in the Header Section of this film. (RL)

The pair gaze up an unidentified structure . . . is it art or was it once part of Crystal Palace? Given the proximity of the Pavilion and stands of the football pitch and dirt track that can be seen in Capture 1 'Death Drives Through' one is left to wonder whether this (or these) were part of either of those structures. (RL)

See previous capture. I am of a mind that might have been a residual piece of sculpture and cynically wonder whether it remains today in a slightly different form. (RL)

Having left the park, Aunt Minerva approaches The Ministry. Farquhar Road with Crystal Palace High Level station to the right.

The last remaining segment of Crystal Palace High Level railway station's wall which was renovated in 2011. (NA)

Inside The Ministry, Colonel Pall K. Gargoyle hears Minerva's complaint. Facing Crystal Palace High Level station on Farquhar Road in SE19. The interior of the station appears in 'Amelia and the Angel'.

What would have been the front of Crystal Palace High Level station. The station opened in 1865 and closed in 1954 following the decline in traffic after Crystal Palace was destroyed by fire in 1936. The station was subsequently demolished in 1961. (NA)

With bells ringing, the Colonel heads back to the park. The bridge carrying Anerley Road over the railway between Crystal Palace and Norwood Junction and Birkbeck stations.

Anerley Road railway bridge on the opposite side of the road to 122 seen earlier. (NA)

Following the hearse along Anerley Road in SE19 the camera finds a K3 telephone kiosk standing outside The Thicket Hotel at the corner of Lullington Road.

A replacement for the original phone box remained in place until The Thicket Hotel closed and was converted into flats in the early 2010s. (NA)

All the lonely people in the park each pair up with a partner and Mrs. Albion dances after looking at what she has achieved.

Plinths stand in a grassy wilderness where the Palace stood out of shot to the left. (NA)

After telling Mrs. Albion that the park is to be closed and made into a cemetery, the Colonel looks towards the hearse as it drives into view.

Not even a lawnmower in the picture today. (RL)

Seven Men and Women from The Ministry get out of the vehicle.

One of a pair of central steps connecting the Upper and Lower Terraces that once faced Crystal Palace. These steps are those to the left and the matching steps to the right of centre have since been demolished. (NA)

The Men from The Ministry begin to dig graves and round up the park's pleasure seekers. Facing the Upper Terrace with the distant building being part of the surviving North Transept.

NA took this shot facing the northern (right) end of the terrace.

Distressed at what she sees, Mrs. Albion looks on helplessly. The Bandstand between the Upper and Lower Terraces in Crystal Palace Park with the The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Memorial visible beyond.

The site of the Bandstand and memorial now. (NA)

Following rebellion and the bureaucracy being turned into art by Mrs. Albion, Michael-Angelico (Lindsay Anderson) and Miss Kellerman sit together on a Sphinxes lap. One of six remaining Sphinxes of the original twelve on the Upper Terrace.

This Sphinx stands to the right of the steps, on the Crystal Palace Television Mast side of the the site. (NA)

As love fills the park, Sam and Bess prepare to leave. The entrance to the pathway to Ledrington Road through the remains of the Railway or Crystal Colonnade between Crystal Palace and Crystal Palace Low Level station in Crystal Palace Park SE19.

Nick Andrews returns to the start of his expedition.