No Road Back

In the darkness of night the alarm at a warehouse rings out as Rudge Harvey (Alfie Bass), Spike (Sean Connery) and their Associate load crates onto a truck. St. Katharine's Dock southern exit, more precise details can be found in association with Captures 2 and 4 (RL)

The last box is loaded onto the tailboard. St. Katharine's Dock southern exit on to St. Katharine's Way hidden by the truck, See Capture 4 (RL)

Two Policemen appear at the end of the street. Facing northward on Thomas More Street E1.

Marco (Carl Conway) is grabbed by one of the Officers as he attempts to climb onto the truck's tailboard as it picks up speed. Ron Glenister identifies this as the gate south from St. Katharine's Dock on to St. Katharine's Way, E1. A very similar capture can be seen in 'The Gold Robbers' Capture 51 from where more precise location detail can be found. (RL)

Harvey presses down on the truck's accelerator as a police car takes chase.

Car S241 closes in on the getaway truck. Upper Thames Street, EC4 looking west directly to 46 to 48, then Brooks Wharf passageway, followed by the 'Kings Head & Lamb' public house that closed c1973 to be demolished to make way for road widening. Smith's Wharf on the corner with Darkhouse Lane can be seen in LPA 49493, previously brought to our attention by Ron Glenister in connection with 'Licensed to Kill'. (RL)

In a narrow street, Spike and nnn move a crate, ready to push it into the path of the Wolseley patrol car.

The police car is brought to a stand after the crate falls to the road blocking its path.

Later that night Harvey arrives Mrs. Railton's club where gang leader Clem Hayes is chatting to barmaid Marguerite. The since remodeled Cambridge Terrace Mews off Chester Gate NW1.

Some matching windows here are helpful. SJ

Having overheard his Mother and Clem planning a diamond robbery from Considine's, Mrs. Railton's son John takes a taxi to Rudge Harvey's car hire business. The corner of Chester Place and Cumberland Terrace in NW1.

Looking towards Regent's Park. SJ

Getting out of the cab, John Railton (Skip Homeier) asks the Driver to wait. Outside number 4 Chester Place. Chester Place has since been renamed and the property is now number 4 Cumberland Place.

I missed this first time round and in the interim some RS scaffolding appeared. SJ

Across the road, John enters a mews. Cumberland Terrace Mews with the junction of Chester Place and Cumberland Terrace in the left background.

The background junction is as was but the foreground corner has changed. SJ

Checking a sign as he passes, John walks towards a Mechanic working on one of the cars. Cumberland Terrace Mews, looking along numbers 1 to 6.

Panning right into the drastically altered mews. 1-6 stood to the left of the brick row on the right, which now fills in the old mews. SJ

The Mechanic (Philip Ray) tells John that Harvey is out. The since demolished and rebuilt Cumberland Terrace Mews.

This is the correct direction but only the best one can do. Behind me is the new 1-4 Cumberland Terrrace running alongside Albany Street. It's been built on the old mews and a new space created here just a little further west. SJ

On the night of the robbery, Harvey uses one of his cars to take Clem and Spike to Considine's. C J Hawkins were at 41-42 Saffron Hill, London EC1 - See LPA 74095 (RL)

This is on the east side of Saffron HIll. SJ

Harvey draws up outside the offices next door to Considine's. 41-42 Saffron Hill, London EC1 See previous Capture. (RL)

41-43 Saffron HIll is on a corner with the very short Lily Place. SJ

Wearing a chauffeur's uniform, Harvey pretends to work on his Daimler as a Constable (Kenneth Midwood) walks up to investigate. Notwithstanding the various re-buildings and re-furbishments Ron Glenister has narrowed this down to outside 30 Greville Street, London EC1 (RL)

Offering to assist, the Policeman turns the ignition key as Harvey quickly pulls out a lead. Similarly to the previous capture Ron gives this as Greville Street, EC1 looking westwards to the junction with Kirby Street. (RL)

Carrying the proceeds of the robbery, Clem Hayes (Paul Carpenter) and Spike pass the helpful Constable as they walk along the film's Lake Street. In real life says Ron, this is Kirby Street, EC1 looking towards Greville Street. (RL)

Reaching the end of the street, Clem and Spike wait for Harvey to pick them up. Greville Street, EC1 looking into Kirby Street as found by Ron Glenister. Whilst there are many bollards around these days the one in the capture appears to have been removed. (RL)

Collecting the crooks from the corner, Harvey drives away. 29-31 Greville Street on the OS Map of around that time identified by Ron. (RL)

A short time later, John walks along Lake Street before spotting an open door at the back of Considine's. Ron finds that a clever 'cut' places John on Saffron Hill, EC1 just about to turn into Lily Place. What looks like a stock telephone box to perhaps obsure the changed building facade. (RL)

Having entered the building, John hurries back to the street to call the police after discovering the Night Watchman’s body. And so says Ron, Lily Place, adding "The area was famously known for deliberately sweet street names that concealed a squalid reality during the Victorian era...." (RL)

After shooting Harvey at the club, Clem bundles his body into the back of the Daimler. Facing south on Cambridge Terrace Mews with the corner of Chester Gate and Chester Terrace Mews, now Chester Close South, in the background.

Looking north with a match of windows on the gleaming 3 Chester Gate. SJ

Clem ducks down behind a parked car when John's girlfriend Beth returns to the club, Cambridge Terrace Mews with number 6 to the left.

No. 6 would have been on the left hand side here. SJ

Not realising that there's a body on the back seat, John drives the Daimler back to Harvey's garage where his is spotted by the Mechanic. Facing southward on Cumberland Terrace Mews with the Prince George of Cumberland public house at 195 Albany Street NW1.

Again I'm not able to match accurately as I should be standing in the middle of what is now 1-4 Cumberland Terrace Mews, on the left. This new mews once comprised buildings 1-6 of the old mews. In the background is 12 Chester Place behind what was the Prince George pub, which can be seen in my comparison for capture 28. SJ

The next day, Sergeant Brooks (Robert Bruce) takes notes as Inspector Harris (Norman Wooland) questions the Mechanic. Cumberland Terrace Mews running alongside Albany Road.

A view looking south-west. SJ

Inspector Harris is driven away after giving his Sergeant instructions to find an excuse to bring John Railton in. The southern section of Cumberland Terrace Mews NW1.

This shows, on the left, the north side of 195 Albany Street, the Prince George of Cumberland which closed in 2005, 12 Chester Place in the middle and 1-4 Cumberland Place on the right. Behind me is the rebuilt 1-4 Cumberland Terrace Mews which now occupies the cobbles seen in the capture. SJ