Season of the Witch, The

The film opens with Meredith Bates (Julie Driscoll) walking towards camera past Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road shortly to pass St. Martin’s Court, carrying her bedroll.

A momentary break in approaching pedestrians.

Shortly afterwards we see her coming down steps in Trafalgar Square, London WC2, (north east corner)………

The stairs were significantly reconfigured in the early 2000's

…..to enter the Square itself and the fountains. Looking towards Australia House.

Only the paving has been updated.

Meredith appears ‘center stage’......... The western end of Carlton Gardens, London SW1 identified by Dave W.

As the steps are now, offficially known as The Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother Memorial, formally unveiled by H M The Queen in 2009. The frieze is worthy of a close study.

.........and in due course to arrive at Victoria Station where she telephones her sister Jenny (Christine Hargreaves).

A wider view taken from an upper level of Market Hall Victoria. SJ

Catching a train to Brighton. We see a train leaving Victoria Station to emerge onto Grosvenor Bridge, SW1

During her journey she reflects on her Black & White grim home life and tedious boring work life that she has just left. Anthony McKay discovered that the view is of terraced houses in Scotswood, Newcastle upon Tyne, at the time of filming a county in it's own right, The road running across the top left corner of the capture is Glebe Street and Wellfield Road crosses the bottom right.

Still in her Black & White world she runs up a road, supposedly to her parents home. Unidentified location.

Eventually the train arrives at Brighton station.

Brighton station canopy with a stationary train, viewed from platform 3. SD

Drawing to a halt Meredith alights.

Approaching the modern ticket barriers. SD

Outside, with a new found ‘kick in her step’ she takes account of her happier surroundings with the odd B&W flash back. Approaching ‘Bonanza’ Restaurant, 48 Queens Road, Brighton as it turns into Upper Gloucester Road.

Viewed from outside No. 48 which is now 'Julien Plumart', a French style patisserie. SD

Is this an escalator she remembers using going to work?

Skilful editing disguises just how little she has travelled from Capture 11. 40 Queens Road, Brighton, the individual shopfront remains.

At 40 Queen's Road was 'Charles Clarke', a men's stylist. 41-42 was 'Emery's Hotel' which closed in the late 80s and was redeveloped. 40-42 Queens Road is now the BBC Radio Sussex broadcasting centre. SD

A wedding orientated dress shop that prompts a B&W family group wedding photo. The shop was at 130 North Street, Brighton. Re-developed into the current ‘Boots’. Stephen Dean, with thanks, has found a photograph of the shop establishing, 'Delia Day' at that address at the time of filming.

On the site of 'Delia Day' is now 'Popeyes', a southern fried chicken restaurant. SD

Where she looks in the window and makes a face. From the window of 130 North Street (previous capture) looking east along North Street.

Viewed from the other side of the window. SD

She meets up with another ‘dissatisfied’ traveller, Anne (Jenny Fabian) whilst having a cup of tea and then they walk along the beach path, past 158 Kings Road Arches, Brighton that is now ‘By The Beach' Fish and Chips. With thanks to the local knowledge of Stephen Dean.

'By the Beach' viewed from the beach but with the view obscured by an outdoor seating area. SD

Meredith learns how visiting food outlets at the end of the day can often provide free food for the evening, or get a skinny dog and go to a butchers and tell them that your dog is starving. Brighton Palace Pier in the background.

No boats on the beach now. SD

She and Anne get involved with a number of students and all discussing their various psychological views on life. Is this part of Brighton’s intricate tunnel system?

The subway leading from Kings Road, by the corner of West Street, to the lower esplanade. It now has a blocked off tunnel and an unpleasant smell. SD

They start to pair up with two of the students……… Jake (Paul Nicholas) and Shaun (Robert Powell). Shelter Hall in the background. Built in the 1880’s it closed in 2012 and was rebuilt as a larger building in a similar Victorian style, reopening in 2020

The new Shelter Hall is described as a re-imagined food hall. SD

………… and start to talk about the use of drugs as they wander further along the beach. Brighton beach with Brighton Palace Pier in the background.

No one wandering along the beach except me. Everyone else is sunbathing. SD

Meredith agrees to go along that evening to see a presentation and film about drug use. Kings Road Arches No 167 currently occupied by ‘Two Kats and a Cow’.

With thanks to Rachel at 'Two Kats and a Cow' for kindly allowing me to take the photo. SD

Random street interviews about the use of drugs starts to be shown, “wouldn’t have done it in his day, there was only two words, work or starve”. West Street side of the Harbour Hotel, corner of West Street and Kings Road.

The hotel was originally known as 'Hotel Victoria'. SD

Put them in the army for a few years”. Is that the ‘Top Rank Suite’ in West Street as background?

The 'Top Rank Suite' originally had a canopy over the Kings Road entrance with the words Bowling Dancing Skating. Now renamed 'Kingswest', the whole building is currently enveloped in scaffolding due to structural issues. SD

“Nice boys but, they are dirty and untidy and won’t let me into their room to clean for them”. Unidentified background.

“They have opted out and have made no attempt to face up to life”. 64 Kings Road in the background.

This appears to be the correct part of the building. SD

"I don’t exactly approve of it”. 56 and 57 Kings Road ‘Fancy That’ and ‘Primal’

A clearer view of the building. SD

“If they are not interfering with me, good luck to them”. Traffic light at King’s Road behind the gentleman with the Odeon Cinema and St. Paul’s Church in West Street background.

The Odeon Cinema closed in 1973 and was demolished in 1990 to be replaced in 1992 by offices. SD

"The cost blocks no one” Or something like that! Unidentified

Meredith is already bored and decides that she is going to return to London and perhaps attend a demonstration. Brighton West Pier in the background that closed to the public in 1975 and suffered two major fires in March and May 2003

Now all that remains of the West Pier is the rusting framework. SD

Leaving the two boys she starts her return journey. Shelter Hall in the background, already seen in Capture 19

Photographed in the morning but not early enough to replicate the lens flare. SD

In London we see a protest against the Vietnam War. Victoria Embankment, passing Middle Temple Garden, EC4. With thanks to Dave W.

It could be said that the view is less cluttered now.

Grosvenor Square with what was the American Embassy to the left.

Decidedly freer access now that it is an hotel as 'The Chancery Rosewood'.

South Audley Street from Grosvenor Square, W1

Decidedly quieter, even for London.

Arrested during the demonstration and found to be carrying drugs, she is released on the bail of her sister Jenny and hitches a lift with a view of going to Cornwall. Unknown location. Could this be the A31?

She asks the driver (Tony Caunter) to drop her off in Exeter where she has an aunt that will put her up for the night. Could this be the A31?

The driver talks about having sex with the girls he picks up along the route. And could this be the A31?

With darkness comes the time to eat. 43 Farnborough Road, Farnham, Surrey. Still a fish & chip shop under the name of ‘Camdenwell’s.

John Harwood popped out to the 'chippy' and found that those double yellow lines really did keep the cars away.

Following on from the lorry she finds alternative transport provided by the Hell’s Angels. Unknown location.

Then she starts to walk. Unknown location.

Before stopping to thumb a further lift. Unknown location.

And then a further lift. Unknown location

To catch a bus. Unknown location

At her destination one of the early shops she looks into she sees a sign that reads “The management reserves the right to refuse admission to beatnik’s and undesirables”. As yet unable to pin point.

Moving on. 'Stevens Tours' that appears at the end of this sequence were at Customs House, Wharf Rd, St Ives, Cornwall, as such we believe that we are essentially looking at the properties to the right ‘Old Customs House’ since redeveloped or materially changed.

Towards the harbour entrance. Looking across to Quay Street and Smeatons Pier, St Ives

In order to sit on a mooring bollard at the end of West Pier, St Ives

The police (Amanda Walker) visit Meredith’s parents (Glynn Edwards) and (Fanny Carby) after they report her as a missing person saying that the police have encouraged her to write home. Unknown location but blurry background could help, however, it looks very much like the end of the St Ives Harbour wall and lighthouse but from where?

We see her walk amongst a cluster of cottages. Treen, Cornwall, looking north from the village shop (SR).

Passing one where the occupant is standing at the door. Street-An-Nowan, Treen. (SR)

In the background the parents continue to describe to the Police Inspector the domestic scene as they see it. Steve Randall locates this as Pedn Vounder Beach in Porthcurno, Cornwall.

Alone and free to walk along the seashore Meredith has time to think. A notable local spot. Logan Rock, Treen. (SR)

She goes to a concert where ‘Blind Faith’ are playing ‘Means To An End’. Hyde Park with the Serpentine.

And unexpectedly meets up with Jake and Shaun. Suppposed to be Hyde Park but those arches suggest elsewhere. Indeed, SJ has found them to be on the east side of the Holland Park Orangery. The 'square throughfare' is just to the right of the car.

All agreeing that they had no plans they decide to go off together. Unknown location.

They start by hitching. Unknown location.

With no success they walk and then start again. Unknown location and near to the subsequent capture.

Sending Jake to charm the elderly lady behind with regard to something to eat, Meredith and Shaun are amused as she backs off defending herself with her shears. Unknown location

Fed up with being ‘on the road’, they decide to get ‘a pad together’. Chalcot Square, NW1 Southern Corner. Chalcot Square also features in 'Zeta One', 'Rattle of a Simple Man', 'Please Sir!' and 'Allez France'.

From ground level not given the advantage of height.

They ‘unpack’ their furniture and belongings. 13 Chalcot Square, NW1

Once again from ground level and considerably smartened up.

After a while they decide that they want to ‘go back on the road’ and plan a trip to India. The boys get a job in the local pub to accumulate funds, but they don’t last five minutes. Meredith already works in a café. ‘The Princess of Wales’, Chalcot Road and Fitzroy Road, London NW1

Pleasing to see that it is a pub that still survives.

They kill time together during their two month ‘preparation time’. General consensus is that this is Primrose Hill, but where exactly?

As the relationship with Jake appears to perhaps get serious Meredith slips out one morning on her own. Walking towards No 9 Chalcot Road with the yellow door.

With thanks to resident and 'ReelStreets' viewer Steve, for his interesting and enjoyable company and for pointing me in the direction of the last two captures.

And away. Chalcot Square looking towards Sharples Hall Street, also seen in 'Rattle of a Simple Man'.

An enhanced neighbourhood with paint and greenery.

Once again she telephones Jenny to say that she is moving on as she is not ready to settle down. Regents Park Road, NW1 on the corner of St George’s Terrace and the telephone box is still there.

There were in fact two telephone boxes, both survive. The call was made from the other box (left hand box), the windows of which are now totally covered in announcements or the like such that it is not possible to take a photograph through that box and through this one.

She sets off alone. Looking north on Regent’s Park Road with ‘The Queen’s' public house on the left.

I wasn't able to both open the door and take the shot, anyway, with all the panes covered with announcements it would have been rather fruitless.