Night Comes Too Soon

Dr. George Clinton tells the story of John (Alec Faversham) and Phyllis Stanton (Anne Howard) who were house hunting one early spring.

Married just a short while, the young couple trudge from property to property.

John gets into the car and the two drive away from another unsuitable house.

Phyllis spots an estate agents that they hadn't yet tried. The 'Estate Agents' at 2 Parson Street, Hendon, London NW4 were in fact 'Ashmore & Co' who are still trading but a few doors along where the postal address changes to 5 Finchley Lane, London NW4 (RL)

Denis Hoare was quickly on the scene providing evidence of the 'dying high street'. Lastly the premises of Lloyds Bank. (RL)

The Estate Agent directs then to Rammelsham Hall. The Ridgeway in Mill Hill NW7 with Partingdale Lane to the extreme left and the Lodge of Bittacy House on the right.

Andrew Hutchings captured the scene now.

Moving with the car, the camera finds The Lodge and gateway to Bittacy House on Bittacy Hill.

Also moving right, Andrew Hutchings takes a second shot of the location.

John brings the car to a stand outside the dilapidated Rammelsham Hall. Bittacy House in Mill Hill NW7.

As mentioned elsewhere, Bittacy House was demolished in 1950 and 'Watchtower House' was built and formally opened in 1958. As a result, it is no longer possible to take an accurate comparison shot for this capture or the others that show more detailed aspects of the original house so Denis Hoare has sent us this wide view of the location as it is now. (RL)

The Estate Agent (David Keir) explains that the house is two hundred years old and originally belonged to necromancer Rinaldo Sabata. The entrance to the run down Bittacy House. See the previous captures comparison shot.

After the couple move into the hall, Phyllis goes out to get shopping. The shop stands next door to number 1 High Street in Mill Hill NW7.

A parked van mars this wider view of the building now, taken by Andrew Hutchings.

Following an afternoon during which John receives odd phone calls, sees mysterious shadows and hears strange noises, Phyllis returns home. The pond in Mill Hill village spotted by Richard Lovejoy, which can also be seen in 'The Sky Bike' and 'Where's That Fire!'.

Denis Hoare continues his tour of Mill Hill to provide this shot for us with Mrs H kindly standing in for Phyllis. (RL)

Night draws in as John settles down to read. Bittacy House was completed in 1827 and demolished in 1950 after falling into disrepair. Watchtower House now stands on the site. See comparison shot for Capture 7.

While the two are staying at an inn in the nearby county town, John goes through a bundle of old letters that he found in an unrestored part of the house. The Thatched Barn Hotel in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire which can also be seen in ‘Tomorrow at Ten’, 'Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World’, 'Four Men in a Car', 'Intimate Games', ‘Hysteria’ and ‘Man at the Top’.

No, that is not poor parking, Denis parked his Lotus Elite as near as possible to where the Opel Super 6 Cabriolet was. (RL)

Having seen Rinaldo Sabata's name in the letters, John sets off to the library. The Thatched Barn at the junction of Rowley Lane, Newark Green and Barnet by-pass in Borehamwood.

Denis advises that the original entrance to the 'Thatched Barn' was roughly where that tree is, consequently, being the perfectionist he would like to have taken the shot a little further back but not surprisingly, more cars were parked. (RL)

Cut to Hendon Library on The Burroughs NW4.

Denis captured this winter shot revealing that little has changed, except perhaps the spikes to deter the birds. (RL)

The camera moves to find John as he arrives. Outside Hendon Library on The Burroughs, Hendon.

A clearer shot from Denis revealing more of the background building and the fact that the frontage of the library has been opened up with the removal of the wall. (RL)

John enters the public library where he discovers a book entitled Our Notable County Homes containing information about Rinaldo Sabata and his house. Hendon Library on The Burroughs in Hendon.

This again shows the wall between the road and library entrance having been removed. Once again, thanks to Denis Hoare. (RL)

Leaving the building with the book, John gets back into his car. The Burroughs with Hendon Methodist Church at the corner of Chapel Walk in the background.

The view today from Denis, if there wasn't a bus stop there when the film was made, there is now. (RL)

Pulling away from the library, John drives to a quiet lane where he reads about Rammelsham Hall and its history. Looking across The Burroughs in NW4 towards Hendon Library.

Denis managed this view from between the trees, there’s a whole row of trees to chose from but he believes that he has the right combination shot. And they have grown Denis. (RL)

John decides to consult a friend who had an interest in psychic phenomena. High Street in Mill Hill with The Ridgeway passing behind the police call box and telephone kiosk to the left.

Denis found a few more cars, and more modern too (There has been an old 1932/3 Ford parked here for years and would have looked good in the picture, but earlier this year it was taken away), the police call box has also teleported to another dimension in time. (RL)

The friend is persuaded to pay a visit. High Street, Mill Hill with Northcote, a property on The Ridgeway in the right background.

Denis found that a red public call box is still there, and is still functional! The view of Northcote house in the background mentioned in the caption of the original capture, is now mostly obscured by a tree and the roof of a hut in the yard of the white house. Northcote House, was the 1960’s home of Patrick McGoohan, who played the characters of “Danger Man” and “The Prisoner”. (RL)

Back at the inn, John and Phyllis wait for Dr. Clinton to arrive. This should be the Thatched Barn in Borehamwood but may be a set.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanton take the Doctor to Rammelsham Hall. Bittacy House on The Ridgeway, Mill Hill in NW7. See comparison shot for Capture 7