Our Mother’s House

With a full shopping trolley, Elsa Hook (Margaret Leclere) walks slowly home to the house where she lives with her sick Mother and six siblings. Facing eastward on Chichester Road in Croydon, which had become part of Greater London in 1965.

It's a shame that a dumped car seat and rubbish bags were littering the street when Keith Prested visited.

Inside her bedroom a short while later, Mrs. Hook passes away just after her daughter Elsa enters to tidy up. Number 12 Chichester Road, Croydon.

The scene now by Keith Prested with the end wall of the present-day Green Acres Estate and a glimpse of the housing within.

The morning after their Mother's death, the children face the world outside and head off to school. Looking out to the gates of 12 Chichester Road.

Keith Prested took this view across Chichester Road towards the rear of present-day housing on Chepstow Rise.

Elsa looks across at her younger brother Hubert (Louis Sheldon Williams) before telling Diana, Dunstan, Jiminee, Gerty and Willy not to worry. The porch at number 12.

As the youngsters begin to fend for themselves, Hubert returns home with the groceries. Looking eastward along Chichester Road.

A Policeman unnerves Hubert as he approaches from the opposite direction. Facing west on Chichester Road with the pillar box standing opposite Chepstow Rise.

John H. used the postbox for this approximation. (SJ)

Diana (Pamela Franklin) and Elsa wait for Jiminee to leave school at the end of lessons.

Jiminee (Mark Lester) and Elsa leave the bank after successfully cashing one of their Mother's annuity cheques. Keith Prested found the premises at the corner of London Road and Hathaway Road in Croydon.

Keith took this shot of the shuttered entrance.

The two look back, worried that Jiminee's forged signature could still be found out. The etched windows of the bank indicate that this is a branch of the Southern Counties Bank. Number 238 London Road located by Keith Prested.

At one time a branch of Midland Bank, now a chicken shop, Keith took a wider view of the frontage to include the ornate circular columns that have survived.

Realising that they have gotten away with it, Elsa and Jiminee begin to laugh as they run along the pavement. Looking southward along London Road in Croydon with Royal Mansions to the left, identified by Keith Prested.

Keith provides the proof in this view.

After passing Gerty and Willy playing in the street, a Motorcyclist (Jack Silk) looks back when his scarf falls into the road. Looking south along Chepstow Rise to the corner of Chichester Road.

John shows the postbox has retained its position. (SJ)

Gerty (Sarah Nicholls) returns the scarf and asks for a ride on the bike. The junction formed by Chepstow Rise and Chichester Road in Croydon.

Willy (Gustav Henry) runs after his sister as the Motorcyclist drives away. Facing north on Chepstow Rise.

Chepstow Rise looking north from close to the junction with Chichester Road, taken by Keith Prested.

The young lad follows the machine towards home. Looking east along Chichester Road from the corner of Chepstow Rise.

Keith Prested captured the view eastwards on Chichester Road.

The Motorcyclist turns into the driveway of the children's house. Across Chichester Road from number 12 stood number 7.

When Gerty is taken ill, Hubert makes his way to Dr. Meadows' surgery.

Watching a Mother take her young Son into the building, Hubert decides against entering.

After their father Charlie Hook (Dirk Bogarde) arrives at the house and takes up residence, he and the children seem to grow fond of each other. Facing Vistec House, an office building which was fairly new at the time of filming, at 185 London Road in Croydon identified by Keith Prested.

Keith explains that in the early 2020s Vistec House was converted to residential use, which involved extensive internal and external alterations, and is currently known as Independence Court.

The children wave as Charlie jumps on a bus. Keith Prested identifies London Road, Croydon with the corner of Kidderminster Road to the left.

The view southwards along London Road towards Croydon town-centre by Keith.

Watched disapprovingly by Elsa, the younger children appear happy as they play games with Charlie. The back garden of number 12 Chichester Road.

Charlie imparts his knowledge of horse racing to Dunstan (John Gugolka) and Hubert. Facing north on Surrey Street towards Crown Hill in Croydon.

Although much has changed, Keith Prested explains that Surrey Street still hosts a daily market and has been authorised to do so under Royal Charter since 1276.

The boys listen as Charlie tells them "Some say betting is a sin." The premises of Jack Ray’s turf accountancy appear to stand at the corner of Surrey Street and Waterworks Yard.

Approaching the door of the bookies, Charlie tells the brothers to wait outside. Surrey Street with Middle Street to the right.

When Dunstan and Charlie alight from a bus, the youngster is recognised by the family's former cleaner Mrs. Quayle (Yootha Joyce). Keith Prested advises that in the background stands Vistec House, opposite Hathaway Road on London Road, Croydon.

A clearer view of what is now Independence Court, taken by Keith.

Dunstan introduces Charlie to Mrs. Quayle. Royal Court on London Road, Croydon identified by Keith Prested.

Keith found that what appears to have been a motorbike shop in the capture, is now a supermarket.

Squandering the children's money, Charlie brings a flash car home. The twenty-two fine Victorian villas standing in their large grounds at this end of Chichester Road were demolished in the late 1960s to be replaced with narrow two up two down terraced houses and five roads containing three storey blocks of flats along with their associated garages.

Charlie takes the children boating. Crystal Palace Park in London SE20 with the railway running between Sydenham and Crystal Palace stations crossing the background. The dinosaurs still inhabit the Lower Lake and other parts of the park feature in 'The Pleasure Garden', ‘Time Without Pity’, ‘Rush’, ‘The Italian Job’ and ‘Soapbox Derby’.

The dinosaurs and friends may be old but they can still move about. (RL)