Mind of Mr. Soames, The

A Rover is waved through the gates of the Midland Institute of Neurophysiological Research. Pyrford Court, Pyrford a few miles east of Woking in Surrey.

John Harwood visited on a more spring-like day. (SJ)

The car continues through the snow bringing Dr. Bergen to the institute’s main building. Pyrford Court is also seen in 'The Omen', 'Sky Pirates', 'Endless Game' and 'The Cat and the Canary'.

The Doctor has flown in from the States to carry out an operation aimed to wake John Soames from the coma that he has been in since birth. The Grade II listed Pyrford Court.

Television presenter Thomas Fleming (Christian Roberts) drives through the gates of the institute with his assistant Naomi. Gate Lodge at the entrance to Pyrford Court on Pyrford Common Road.

John H. found the gates firmly locked but poked his camera through them for this shot. (SJ)

The popular personality heads towards the building where he will introduce ‘Probe’, a programme that will follow the recovery and education of Mr. Soames. The Bothy at Pyrford Court.

John found alteration to the left. (SJ)

Following a successful procedure, John Soames looks through the window of his prison like room. Looking out into the grounds of Pyrford Court.

When he finds John missing from his room one evening, Joe Allan (Donal Donnelly) goes into the grounds of the institute to search for him. Pyrford Court on Pyrford Common Road, Pyrford in Surrey.

With the enquiring mind of a child, John Soames (Terence Stamp) explores the gardens and discovers an ornamental pool.

Dr. Bergen (Robert Vaughn) tells Joe that it was he who let John out of his room. Pyrford Court in Surrey.

When the alarm is raised an angry Dr. Maitland (Nigel Davenport) strides towards Dr. Bergen. Facing Pyrford Court from the grounds.

Having escaped from the institute, John Soames wakes up near a river. This is looking towards the the footbridge over Cuckoo Weir, a short backwater that flows beneath under Queen Elizabeth Bridge to the north of Clewer, Windsor in Berkshire.

John makes his way from the riverside. The steps in the background lead up to under Queen Elizabeth Bridge from Meadow Lane which runs from Eton alongside Cuckoo Weir.

On the bridge, John is confronted by a busy main road. Queen Elizabeth Bridge on the A332 Royal Windsor Way with the railway viaduct carrying the Slough to Windsor line and the tower of St. John's church, Eton in the distance.

John spots a red car similar to one that he played with at the institute. The Main Road curving away in the background is the A332 Royal Windsor Way with the A355 passing beneath.

Seeing John at the side of the road, a Man (Joe Gladwin) stops to offer a lift. The A332 Royal Windsor Way with Eton College Sanatorium across the road.

John is dropped off close to a factory . . . . which he finds fascinating. Di Davies recognises this as the gasworks on Uxbridge Road, Slough in Buckinghamshire, also seen in 'Say Hello to Yesterday' and 'Blinker's Spy Spotter'. (RL)

With nothing else of the works remaining, Mike Gerrish took this shot of the entrance to the gas works on Uxbridge Road advising that the buildings on the right will shortly be demolished to make way for new housing.

The Man drives away as John Soames leaves the factory and walks into town. The bridge taking Uxbridge Road over the Grand Union Canal in Slough, and continuity is good here . . . see previous capture. (RL)

Feeling hungry, John enters a pub where he takes a sandwich before being ordered out for not paying. This is outside The Greyhound public house on London Road in Staines, Surrey which was demolished in the 1980s and replaced by offices.

Nick Boorman provides this modern view of the street adding that the pub disappeared years ago and the entire length of the road has been redeveloped.

Boys play football during a games lesson at a nearby school. Peter Culley identifies this as Hampton Junior School on Percy Road in Hampton, Greater London.

The next four comparisons were taken by John Harwood. Given problems with schools these may be the best one can do and a teacher did confirm the location to John, so I've included them for now (SJ). John says that this is the back and seemed the closest to a match, although he has reservations.

Through the school’s railings, John spots the boys playing with the ball. The building in the centre background is a railway signalbox. Looking from Hampton Junior School onto Ashley Road with the signalbox at Hampton railway station in the background, located by Peter Culley who advises that the fence is now covered by a box hedge.

John thanks the teacher for letting him take this inside. He had to go for the main gate to avoid the hedge. The signal box has long gone. (SJ)

Entering the school yard, John joins in with the youngsters before pushing one of them over. Found by Peter Culley, this is looking across Ashley Road towards Station Road beyond Hampton station.

As above. (SJ)

The Schoolteacher (Tony Caunter) tells John to leave the premises. The buildings of Hampton Junior School on Percy Road in Hampton recognised by Peter Culley.

John again. Maybe one of those entrances is the original seen in the original. (SJ)

As evening draws in, John becomes colder while wandering aimlessly along suburban roads before he notices a parked car ahead.

The car’s Owner comes out of the house shouting when he sees John steal a coat from his Fiat.

Deliveries take place on the morning after John is taken home by Richard Bannerman and his wife after being run down on a narrow lane. Guildford Road, Ottershaw near Chertsey in Surrey located by Geoff Dodd. Steve Cook, offering congratulations to Geoff, tells us that this is outside the house is called Herons Hill, which can be seen on the roadside sign. (RL)

Daren Cahillane captured the location 56 years later where the sign for the property is still present.

Inside the house, John is tended to by Jenny Bannerman before her husband sets off to work. Geoff Dodd advises that this is Herons Hill on Guildford Road in Ottershaw, just south of the junction with Anningsley Park, with the postcode KT16 0QW. (RL)

Steve provides this capture copyright Bing Maps supporting Geoff's advice that the house is second from the right. (RL)

Whilst at work, Richard sees a newspaper headline and alerts the police to John’s whereabouts. Nick Boorman locates this as the junction of Kingston Road and London Road in Staines adding that, out of view on the left is the police station that has features in later captures and, about 50 metres beyond the bus stop to the right stands the school that appears in 'Take a Girl Like You'.

On a street greatly redeveloped since the 1970s, Nick's shot shows that the bus stop remains.

A police car arrives outside the Bannerman’s house prompting John to escape through the back garden. Geoff Dodd identifies the property as being on Guildford Road, Ottershaw. (RL)

Looking along the driveway, Daren Cahillane caught a glimpse of the garage at Herons Hill.

John makes his way to the film’s Tilfield East railway station. Bourne End station in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire.

A train from a different era waits to depart in Margaret Newson's comparison.

Finding money in the coat pocket, John buys a ticket to London. Looking into the booking hall of Bourne End station.

Margaret Newson captured the booking office now.

Feeling quite pleased with himself, John boards the waiting train. Bourne End station on the route between Maidenhead and Marlow in Buckinghamshire.

Too late, police arrive at the station. Outside Bourne End station on Station Road, Bourne End.

No police cars screeching to a halt in Margaret Newson's modern view.

Fleeing from his pursuers, John heads towards a farmhouse where he hides in a barn.

Thomas Fleming runs from the police station after learning that officers are searching the area around Tilfield. The Police Station on London Road at the corner of Kingston Road, Staines.

Nick Boorman provides this view of the junction.

Fleming tells Naomi (Vickery Turner) to contact the office and get them to send a camera crew. Looking eastward along London Road in Staines, Surrey.

Nick Boorman took this shot adding that "This area of Staines has been greatly altered since 1970." For perspective, the old police station stands on the extreme right and is the only building remaining since filming, albeit now converted into flats.