Life for Ruth

The film opens in the North East of England. In the distance stands the Vane Tempest Colliery to the north of Seaham in County Durham with buildings on Dene House Road in the foreground.

Pat Harris (Janet Munro) calls her daughter Ruth in from playing with Teddy from next door. Dene House Road in Seaham.

Paul Thompson provides a comparison shot showing the changes that have been made over the last 50+ years. (RL)

Carrying a cat, Ruth (Lynn Taylor) makes her way home with Teddy (Freddy Ramsey). Dene House Road with the Vane Tempest Colliery in the background. Housing now occupies the site of the colliery.

Paul shows us the same view and that housing does indeed now occupy the colliery site. (RL)

The young boy goes to ask his parents if he can go to the beach with Ruth. Looking westward on Dene House Road.

Teddy's father Henry (Frank Finlay) agrees that his son can go to the beach. The property stands on Dene House Road.

John Harris (Michael Craig) picks up his daughter as they wait for Teddy. Dene House Road, Seaham.

The loving mother says goodbye to her family. Dene House Road.

As we might have expected, a few more cars in the road these days. Another shot from Paul. (RL)

Pat watches as the car is driven away. Dene House Road, Seaham in County Durham.

Paul managed to avoid capturing any of the neighbours whilst he was there. (RL)

At the path to the beach, John pulls over to let Ruth and Teddy out. Looking north an the coast road between Seaham and Ryhope near Seaham Hall in County Durham located by Kath Robson.

Steve Gibson returned to the same spot.

The two children descend to the beach as Ruth's Father continues to work. Kath Robson identifies this as the coast road, where the present day named Sea View and North Road meet, close to Seaham Hall in Seaham.

The pathway to the beach is still there as Steve Gibson's comparison shows.

As the whistle blows, John nears work. Looking north on Mill Lane in Whitburn, County Durham with Whitburn Colliery to the right.

The engineer turns off the main road. The main offices of Whitburn Colliery on Mill Lane.

Pat joins Ruth and Teddy as they play with other children on the shore. Marsden Rock in Marsden Bay off the County Durham coast.

Taken from the cliff top by David Wraith, this view shows Marsden Rock as it stands now.

At lunchtime, John nears his Father's house above the beach where Pat, Ruth and Teddy are playing. This is Lindsay Street in the former community of Marsden to the north of Whitburn in County Durham. The declining village was demolished during the 1960s.

The site of Marsden village, with Marsden Rock visible to the right, captured by David.

Glancing towards the rocks below, John gets out of his car. The rocks off Lizard Point, Marsden.

Mr. Harris (Malcolm Keen) comes out to meet his son. Souter Lighthouse off Coast Road in Marsden, County Durham.

David Wraith provides this closer, more colourful view of Souter Lighthouse which was taken by his late brother Ed.

Pat climbs up from the beach with wood for her father-in-law's fire. Marsden Bay, County Durham.

Paul Thompson provides a similar view of the bay. (RL)

The couple talk as, on the beach, Ruth and Teddy get into a rowing boat to retrieve their lost ball from the sea. Marsden with The Leas and Souter Lighthouse in the background.

Paul provides a closer view of the background building. (RL)

Pat screams when she sees the small boat heading for the rocks. Marsden with Souter Lighthouse in the left background.

Paul took this shot of the lighthouse and the connected building without risking the cliff edge. (RL)

After being rescued from the sea, Ruth lies poorly in hospital. Harefield Hospital on Hill End Road, Harefield in Middlesex identified by Phil Evans.

Antony Blair returned to the hospital on a damp day.

Dr. James Brown (Patrick McGoohan) runs to catch up with his colleague Dr. Harvard when John refuses consent for a blood transfusion for his daughter. Phil Evans recognised the entrance to Harefield Hospital on Hill End Road in Harefield.

The entrance remains easily recognisable in Antony Blair's comparison.

The morning after Ruth passes away Dr. Brown orders a post mortem in the hope that Ruth's father will be exposed as being responsible for her death. Harefield Hospital on Hill End Road, Harefield in Middlesex located by Phil Evans.

Antony Blair found a few changes around the approach to the building.

John drives to his parents in law after learning about the post mortem in addition to an inquest.

Inside, Pat tells her parents of their grand-daughter's death.

The distraught couple arrive home, torn apart by their feelings and beliefs. Facing east on Dene House Road, Seaham.

Paul chose a longer view of the road from the opposite pavement. (RL)

At the inquest, the Coroner hears all the evidence. Londonderry Offices on North Terrace in Seaham, County Durham.

From Paul's shot it would appear that some car parking has given way to road widening. (RL)

Unhappy with the verdict, Dr. Brown leaves the court with Dr. Richard Harvard (Michael Aldridge). Outside the Londonderry Offices on North Terrace in Seaham, County Durham with Bath Terrace in the left distance.

The two men discuss their feelings about the result. Looking northward on North Terrace.

Angry that a child has died because of the actions of a parent, Dr. Brown vows to take further action. Opposite the Londonderry Offices on North Terrace, Seaham.

The Doctor walks from the town to be alone with his thoughts.

Determined to seek justice for what he sees as Ruth’s needless death, Dr. Brown heads to the police station. Church Street in Seaham, County Durham.

Paul shows us another example of pedestrianisation. (RL)

Inside the station Superintendent Finley is unable to help and suggests a private prosecution. Church Street Methodist Church in Seaham.

Now estranged from her husband, Pat spends a sleepless night at her parent’s house. Facing south on North Terrace with the Londonderry Offices to the left of centre.

Some not unexpected building development revealed in Paul's shot. (RL)

Following Ruth’s funeral, mourners make their way from the graveside. This is St. John the Baptist church on the Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon Hill in Uxbridge, Middlesex identified by Antony Blair.

The location now taken by Antony.

Walking behind her parents, Pat leaves the graveyard on her own with John being the last to leave. Antony Blair tells us that this is looking east on the pathway that separates the two sections of St. John the Baptist church's graveyard.

Returning to the black and white world of 60 years ago, Antony recreates the shot.

Mr. Gordon (John Barrie) opens the car door for his daughter as the mourners turn on her husband. Outside the church yard on Royal Lane, Hillingdon Hill in Uxbridge with the Red Lion Hotel in the background, located by Antony Blair.

A similar view now taken by Antony.

At the Meeting Hall, the congregation gather for a service dedicated to Ruth.

The couple walk together to attend the service. John Bignell recognised this to be High Street in Harefield, Middlesex.

The same parade of shops 61 years on, captured by Antony Blair.

Unable to face the service, Pat turns and runs from the Meeting Hall. Facing south-west on High Street in Harefield located by John Bignell.

Antony Blair arrived in front of the former greengrocers on a less fraught day.

John looks on as his son is left standing alone.

Dr. Brown leaves his house in the town. Bath Terrace in Seaham.

All remains very much the same on Bath Terrace according to Paul. (RL)

Brian Clyde (Leslie Sands), from the Citizen, arrives at the end of the terrace. Looking along Tempest Road from North Terrace.

At least one building remains to help Paul orientate his shot. (RL)

Dr. Brown learns that Clyde has similar feelings to his own about Ruth’s death. North Road in Seaham from the junction with North Terrace and Tempest Road.

Apart from the lamp posts and today's seemingly necessary road markings, there doesn't appear to be that much change in Steve Gibson's view.

The editor tells Dr. Brown that he can put him in touch with a solicitor. Bath Terrace in Seaham. The back streets of this coastal town were visited by the cast and crew of 'Billy Elliot'.

Was that previously a bank extreme left Paul?

The Doctor agrees. The corner of North Terrace and Tempest Road.

Steve Gibson provides the comparison.

Clyde and solicitor Hart Jacobs (Paul Rogers) play a round of golf before the Doctor is introduced. Heatherden Hall at Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire.

The south side of the hall. RJ

Hart refuses to take Dr. Brown’s case. The terrace at Heatherden Hall. The location was also seen in ‘From Russia with Love’, ‘Twice Round the Daffodils’, ‘Carry On Up the Khyber’ and ‘The Early Bird’.

Dr. Brown travels to Durham to see Mapleton, a solicitor who agrees to handle the case. Durham Cathedral from the north with Castle Chare in the bottom right foreground and Millburngate on the left.

Taking this shot at "Durham City Viewpoint", Tony Leighton explains that "The land in the foreground was cleared and became a car park for many years. It's now occupied by a through road and some very nice houses as well as loads of trees which obscure the view of Castle Chare and Milburngate."

An establishing shot of the film’s St. John’s church. In reality, Steve Randall found that this is St Mary’s church on Church Street in Slough, then in Buckinghamshire.

And Steve provides this view as proof.

Seeking guidance, Pat arrives at the church looking for the Vicar, Mr. Reynolds. St Mary’s church on Church Street in Slough located by Steve Randall.

The location now captured by Steve.

When John is arrested, Pat hurries to the police station to see him. Looking west on Church Street in Seaham with St. John’s Church in the distance.

Hart passes Pat at the police station entrance. Outside Church Street Methodist Church on Church Street.

Unconventionally, Hart offers to take on John's defence and asks Pat to discuss the case with him. Church Street in Seaham.

The solicitor speaks with Pat in his car. Church Street, Seaham in County Durham.

Pat visits Dr. Brown in an effort to get him to withdraw the charges against her husband. Bath Terrace, Seaham with Tempest Road beyond North Terrace in the background.

Paul shows us that standards are certainly maintained here. (RL)

The day of the Magistrates hearing dawns.

Hart and Pat arrive at the Magistrates Court.

Inside the court, John is bailed to appear at the Crown Court in Durham.

Police protection is present as John and Pat return home to face the press and angry locals. Dene House Road in Seaham, County Durham.

Pat and John visit Hart's office in Durham. Facing St Nicholas' Church in the Market Place from Sadler Street in Durham.

Steve Gibson spent an interesting morning in Durham and gathered a few comparisons while he was there.

The now nationally prominent case is heard at the Crown Court in Durham. Framwelgate Bridge over the River Wear in Durham with the Castle filling the skyline to the left.

Steve Gibson visited Framwelgate Bridge.

Durham Crown Court at the east end of Old Elvet and Court Lane with the Cathedral in the right distance.

Taken from a similar position by Steve Gibson.

An establishing shot of the County Hotel near the Crown Court. Looking towards Elvet Bridge from Old Elvet in Durham with the County Hotel on the right.

Steve Gibson found the location just as busy.

Inside the hotel, Hart Jacobs discusses the case with Kent, John's counsel. The County Hotel on Old Elvet.

The same windows by Steve Gibson.

After being acquitted, John comes to terms with the reality of what has happened and decides to end his life. Facing the junction of Old Elvet and New Elvet in Durham.

Steve Gibson captured the scene in daylight.

Dr. Brown pulls John from the path of an approaching bus. Chapel Passage off Old Elvet in Durham, County Durham. The passage is now a window in the eastern part of the extended hotel.

Tony Leighton recalls "I remember when this was a passage as we sometimes went down it to go to the baths in the late sixties. The County Hotel is now massively extended and incorporates the site. I suspect that to get the elevation on the shot that it might have been filmed from a window in the opposite building."

The film ends with John Harris alone on the cliff above the sea that took his daughter Ruth. Marsden Bay in County Durham.