Ring of Spies (aka Shadow of Treason)

A party at the British Embassy in Warsaw. Looks rather like Littleton Park House, Shepperton in Middlesex.

As the girlfriend of Henry Houghton (Bernard Lee) Christina (Christina Lord) goes to report to the Russian Embassy. Could this be London to be made to look like Warsaw? IMDb advises that some filming was carried out in Bled, Slovenia and Dubrovnik, Croatia, both then part of Yugoslavia.

Disgracing himself at the Warsaw party Houghton is posted to Portland, Dorset. Could this be the studio complex? Yes, it could be and was, Geoff Dodd confirms with the aid of 'avengerland' that it is indeed Shepperton Studio complex.

Cmdr. Winters (Thorley Walters) shows him the base and finally where he will be working. That looks more like a factory but similar chimney to that in the previous capture, similar because it is the same one, confirmed by Geoff Dodd as Shepperton Studio complex.

Houghton lives in a caravan opposite the post office where he receives a mysterious call from a “friend of Christina . . . " Lindsay Scott has provided the answer to this one, 2 Chobham Rd, Ottershaw, Chertsey KT16 0NL. Now the office of 'Curchods'.

Steve Randall provides the comparative shot evidencing what looks like the original post box even if it has lost the 'Post Office' sign.

. . . asking him to visit London. Suffolk Street in London SW1.

Now the Philippine Embassy.

He is approached by a Russian Embassy Official. Suffolk Street in SW1, looking south with Suffolk Place to the right.

A rather busier scene.

With a view to being able to access secret files Houghton ingratiates himself with office secretary Elizabeth Gee (Margaret Tyzack) and takes her to the coast after a few drinks. Looking down along Chesil Beach from the Isle of Portland in Dorset. The location also appears in 'The Bulldog Breed', 'The Damned', 'Out of Season' and 'The Small Back Room'.

Actually taken back in 2010 but a nice match from Kevin Mullarkey, who was born here. (SJ)

Houghton receives instructions to go the Toby Jug public house on Hook Rise South in Tolworth, Surrey. The building was demolished in 2002.

Julian Shea found that the pub is remembered by the street name . . . . and there's still Guinness at the location!

There he meets with secret agent Gordon Lonsdale (William Sylvester) and as it becomes difficult to talk, they make there way to Epsom Racecourse where they cannot be overheard.

John Harwood went to the races and certainly could not be overheard. (SJ)

Houghton takes Elizabeth to see a cottage that he is proposing to buy where they can live together.

Despite not wanting to be, Elizabeth becomes involved and documents are “borrowed” for the weekend and handed over to Lonsdale, who gives them tickets to see ‘The Crazy Gang’ that evening. Meanwhile Lonsdale photographs the documents in his apartment. White House on Albany Street, London NW1. The building also appears in 'Gideon's Day, 'Third Party Risk', 'Tread Softly Stranger', 'The Counterfeit Plan', 'Operation Stogie', 'Night Plane to Amsterdam', 'The Betrayal' and 'Escapement'.

As so often revealed, a greener London.

Job done, the following morning he drives……. This is not outside The White House as suggested. But not that far away, Dave W found that it is in fact Bolsover Street W1, looking south from 385 Euston Road with Great Portland Street Station behind.

Replacing Dave's GEV from Sep '20 with a leafier look. SJ

. . . to Baker Street station . . . which, on Marylebone Road NW1, also appears in 'Home at Seven', ‘The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It’ and 'Dial 999'.

Only tour buses allowed in there now.

. . . to catch the train . . . . This is one of the Metropolitan Line platforms at Baker Street.

We are in the right place for the Bakerloo Line at least.

. . . to Northwick Park station, which stands on Northwick Avenue in Harrow, Middlesex.

Some changes have been made to the inside entrance wall.

The next time we see him he is at Eastcote Station . . . on Field End Road, Eastcote in Ruislip, Middlesex.

And I was there 55 years later.

. . . . to catch a train and pretend to alight at Preston Road station in Harrow.

I didn't pretend, I had to alight there.

Eventually alighting at Ruislip. The station stands on Station Approach, Ruislip in Middlesex and the background bungalows stand on Willow Grove.

Changes over time are apparent but the bungalows still stand beyond the fence. (PW)

And walks to Cranley Drive. Here exiting Courtfield Gardens in Ruislip.

Suburbia remains much the same.

To visit No 45 Cranley Drive, the home of Mr and Mrs Kroger.

It was hard to realise the importance of this location in such an high profile case.

The following day Lonsdale returns the documents to Houghton and Elizabeth. Hyde Park in W2. The bandstand can also be seen in 'Five Days'.

The deck chairs as well as the band are long gone.

Another file is “borrowed” over a subsequent weekend. They are followed by the police in a lorry. Chobham Common, Staple Hill, Chobham, Chertsey in Surrey. A similar view is seen in 'The Break'.

Now a formal car park and with substantial greenery growth it is not possible to achieve the exact camera location required.

To avoid being obvious the police swap the lorry for a Standard Vanguard. Windlesham Road by Ford Road looking west.

Changes to the road layout no doubt as a result of the development out of sight to the left.

As they turn right the next police vehicle is in front of them, driven by a “nun”. B383, Windsor Road and the junction with Windlesham Road, Red Lion Road and Little Heath Road, Chobham in Surrey.

Albeit from ground level, it is difficult to realise that this is the same location other than road layout.

They make their way into London. Chiswick Roundabout and Flyover in W4.

Antony Blair returned to the location 59 years later.

Here turning into Derry Street from Kensington High Street in London W8.

Scaffolding and and an immovable white van.....typical!

Meeting up with Lonsdale at the Roof Garden of Derry & Thoms where they exchange bags. The gardens, also known as Kensington Roof Gardens closed in January 2018.

A plain clothes officer with Pekingese dog follows Lonsdale back down Derry Street.

Need I say anything!

Later that evening Lonsdale returns to his apartment. The White House, Albany Street from Osnaburgh Street, London NW1

More changes underway.

Having copied the documents, the following morning he crosses the road to Great Portland Street Underground station. Great Portland Street W1.

A rather depleted water fountain for an age when we are shunning plastic water bottles.

Too early, 7.43am first train, Sunday Service, considering his next move, he looks along Osnaburgh Street NW1 from the junction with Euston Road.

One would expect more pedestrians later in the day.

He decides to drive and is followed by a “News of the World” delivery van. Paul Pepall advises that this is Convent Road (B378), Ashford in Middlesex looking north with Muncaster Road seen off to the right.

There are fewer trees on the central reservation now, as Nick Boorman discovered.

Relieved to see that they are “genuine” when they drop off a bundle of papers. Once again, Convent Road in Ashford, confirmed by Nick Boorman as looking south towards the junction with Town Tree Road.

Nick Boorman found the location has changed a little.

Collected by the newspaper seller. Not the first bundle today it would seem! Nick Boorman locates this as outside the Greenwood public house at the corner of Whitton Avenue West and Keble Close in Northolt, Middlesex.

Soon after Nick discovered that the pub had been promoted to the Greenwood Hotel, Steve Smith captured this view of the building as it now appears.

Lonsdale eventually arrives at 45 Cranley Drive once more. Ruislip in Middlesex.

Spot all the changes.

Having delivered the copy documents to the Krogers (David Kossoff and Nancy Nevinson) Lonsdale goes to meet Houghton and Elizabeth as arranged. The Round Pond in Kensington Gardens W2.

I did actually see someone with a model yacht that day.

Houghton brings up the touchy subject of “more money” as they exchange bags. ‘Physical Energy’ statue, erected in Kensington Gardens 1907.

We are all looking for more physical energy.

For the next assignment they drive to Winchester station and catch a train to Waterloo. Peter Brown suggests that this as Aldershot station in Hampshire . . . and there are similarities.

Yes, Aldershot station, today having work done out the front. (SR)

Even the men in Whitehall have to work at the weekend when matters are as serious as this. London W1.

Somewhat heavier traffic these days.

Blake (Edwin Apps) of Whitehall goes to meet with a Russian Embassy Official. Lords Cricket Ground, London NW8.

Richard Winchester was fortunate enough to have a tour of Lords Cricket Ground and took the opportunity to think of gaps in Reelstreets 'outfield'. Despite being slightly off angle Richard did his best for us from the players balcony of the pavilion, a fine shot, thank you. (RL)

Houghton and Elizabeth arrive at Waterloo Station.

A very different scene in 2019

Chief Supt. Croft (Derek Francis) who is leading the operation exits his car. Station Approach Road at Waterloo station in SE1.

No doubt all the metal work is for Health and Safety reasons.

Houghton and Elizabeth leave the station and walk down Leake Street towards Lower Marsh and the junction with Lambeth Square in SE1.

Lambeth Square is no longer.

Meanwhile Lonsdale gets out of his taxi nearby. Webber Street opposite the junction with Gray Street SE1.

The terraced houses in the background remain.

Houghton and Elizabeth arrive at the agreed meeting place. Cornwall Road and The Cut, London SE1 with the Old Vic Theatre out of shot at the top.

Regrettably insufficient height to obtain an acceptable comparison.

Chief Supt. Croft sits and watches and waits. The junction of Cornwall Road and The Cut.

It would not have been difficult, although inappropriate, to capture a similar seat occupant.

Plain clothes officers sit and watch and wait. The junction of Cornwall Road and The Cut.

Protecting those trees clearly helped their early growth.

And another. The junction of Cornwall Road and The Cut with Waterloo Road Fire Station in the left background.

A much more detailed sign now stands on the others die of the gardens.

And another. 'The Old Vic' Waterloo Road side.

A further change of signage was in hand when I was there, hampering my camera point.

Lonsdale approaches from Cornwall Road.

The remodelled Emma Cons Gardens.

With that they swoop to arrest. The junction of Waterloo Road, Cornwall Road, Webber Street and The Cut.

Rather loses the impact from ground level.

Charged and all the guilty parties appear in Court. Lady Justice, Royal Court of Justice, Old Bailey.

Start at the top...

Gordon Lonsdale sent to prison for 25 years. Various views of the Central Criminal Court building appear in many other films including 'Three Sundays to Live', 'The Jokers', 'Appointment with Crime', 'The Naked Edge', 'The Pot Carriers', 'Information Received', 'Brothers in Law', 'Hostile Witness', 'Gideon's Day' and 'The Long Dark Hall'.

...and pan down...

Peter Kroger and Helen Kroger, 20 years

....lower....

Harry Houghton, 15 years, Elizabeth Gee 15 years

....to ground level.

There are still more in our midst acting like ordinary citizens, who knows? Piccadilly Circus W1.

One of these days someone will afford us an high level location.