Strangler’s Web (An Edgar Wallace Mystery)

Following the murder of ageing showgirl Norma Brent, Alice Preston (Marianne Stone) arrives in Soho by taxi. Outside 40 Dean Street W1.

The same section of Dean Street. (PW)

Briefly checking for traffic, Alice quickly crosses the road. Looking north along Dean Street in Soho.

The parking bays remain but the street is now one way northbound. (PW)

Alice enters a corner building where her husband, a solicitor, has his office. The corner of Dean Street and Meard Street which can also be seen in ''Wonderland', 'The Hippopotamus' and 'Where Has Poor Mickey Gone?' while other parts of Dean Street appear in 'The Small World of Sammy Lee' and 'Man at the Carlton Tower'.

Trying to avoid traffic, parked vehicles and pedestrians, this is the view 56 years later. (PW)

Being told that divorce proceedings have started, Lewis Preston watches his wife after she leaves his office. Looking out from number 62 onto the junction of Dean Street and Old Compton Street in W1.

From street level. (PW)

Finding accountant Amos Colfax out when he arrives at his office, Lewis Preston (John Stratton) turns when a Woman knocks on the shop window next door. The window of number 6 Church Street in Wimbledon Village SW19.

Peter Bywaters (PB) found that the shop front remains unchanged but the business no longer sells hats.

The Woman in the window indicates that Amos Colfax (Maurice Hedley) is heading towards a bar at the end of the road. Looking from Church Street towards the junction with High Street in Wimbledon Village with the Dog & Fox public house to the centre.

Taken from outside number 6 Church Road, with added street furniture. (PB)

Lewis looks both ways before crossing the road to catch up with Colfax. The junction of High Street and Church Street in Wimbledon Village.

Barclays Bank is now a restaurant but the view along Church Road is instantly recognisable. (PB)

Colfax enters the bar and orders a half of Whitbread Tankard before Lewis arrives and introduces himself as representing John Vichelski, the man suspected of killing Norma. The entrance to the Dog & Fox, previously the Wimbledon Hill Hotel, on High Street in Wimbledon Village.

The entrance to the Dog & Fox, still a Young's pub. (PB)

Making enquiries about Jackson Delacort, an acquaintance of Norma's, Lewis pays a visit to Melanie Anderson. Antony Blair identifies this as Sarum Chase on West Heath Road NW3, which is also seen in 'A doppia faccia' and '101 Dalmatians'.

Denis Hoare did his best given that the house had recently had many trees planted to screen it from the road. (RL)

Vichelski leads Lewis to The Pretty Place, a discotheque in the West End. Piccadilly Circus in W1.

I should be further back but the statue was enjoying a spring clean. SJ

On another day, Nell Pretty (Pauline Boty) is questioned by Lewis as she drives them out of London. Peter Bywaters found St. Dunstan's Hill, heading towards Oldfields Road in Sutton, Greater London. Jamie Sturgeon corrects our earlier identification explaining that this is looking southward on Oldfields Road in Sutton, Greater London, near what is today the Kimpton Park Way junction, with bollards preventing access to Burford Road and Clensham Lane ahead to the left. We now have unanimity with regard to the location with Peter Bywaters finding a screen frame with St Dunstan's Church, Cheam revealing itself on the horizon as viewed from Oldfields Road at the junction with Kimpton Park Way. (RL)

Peter Bywaters provides this comparative shot with the spire of the said church showing itself well to the right on the horizon. (RL)

Nell tells Lewis that Norma met Jackson Delacorte through her mother, May Pretty. Oldfields Road in Sutton identified by Richard Lovejoy (RL), just before the Regent garage seen in the next capture.

The location is now a Tesco car park. (PB)

The TR4 speeds on as Nell continues that her mother was once married to Jackson. RL found that the background garage stands on Oldfields Road in Sutton and the site is now occupied by a McDonald's food outlet.

McDonald's it is. (PB)

When her mother told Jackson that she was expecting Nell, he disappeared. RL advises that the shop and background house fit the location at 43 Oldfields Road in Sutton.

Crossing the road, Peter Bywaters (PB) took this shot which shows that the buildings in the screen capture still exist but with an additional property now squeezed between them.

Returning after Nell's birth, Jackson and May had a whirlwind courtship and got married. In the background stands the Gander Inn at the corner of St. Dunstan's Hill and Gander Green Lane in Sutton. (RL)

A closer view of The Gander Inn. (PB)

About a year after the wedding, Jackson disobeyed, dishonoured and went off with another woman. Oldfields Parade on St. Dunstan's Hill located by RL who adds that there's a garage on the opposite side of the road that appears in 'Five to One'.

Outdoor dining next door to the Gander Inn. (PB)

Car horns blare at Nell's driving as she explains that her mother and Jackson never did divorce. RL recognised St. Dunstan's Hill in Sutton, with number 76 somewhere on the right.

St. Dunstan's Hill now with the reference point to the right of centre being the telegraph pole next to three chimneys to the right of centre. (PB)

Jackson went to the theatre in Brighton where May was performing to discuss a divorce but a car accident intervened. St. Dunstan's Hill in Sutton with Alberta Avenue in the background found by Richard Lovejoy (RL).

The house to the left has two upstairs windows and the next door property has three, this and the road bollards match. (PB)

The car accident killed Nell's mother and Jackson was left badly injured. RL advises that Crowley & Coles' service station stood at 95 St. Dunstan's Hill in Sutton, Greater London and that a service station still exists on the site.

An updated garage now stands on St. Dunstan's Hill. (PB)

Lewis asks if Nell could stop at the next telephone box so that he can send a telegram. St. Dunstan's Hill, Sutton located by RL.

The two houses in the background stand in Alma Crescent off St. Dunstan's Hill. (PB)

Nell asks "Who to?" St. Dunstan's Hill with Alberta Avenue in the background recognised by RL.

Peter Bywaters concludes his journey along St. Dunstan's Hill with this comparison.

Introduced by his niece Melanie Anderson (Pauline Munro), Jackson Delacorte (Griffith Jones) walks with Lewis Preston through the grounds of his mansion. Antony Blair identifies the gardens at Sarum Chase on West Heath Road, Hampstead.

After discussing John Vichelski's innocence as well as his relationships with Norma and May, Jackson Delacorte closes the interview and follows Melanie and Lewis back to the house. The rear gardens of Sarum Chase in Hampstead found by Antony Blair.

In Brighton, Lewis and Nell revisit the site of the accident that killed her mother. Looking down onto one of the groynes at Ovingdean Beach stretching out into the English Channel from Undercliff Walk below Marine Drive between Roedean and Rottingdean to the east of Brighton in Sussex. Another of the groynes appears in 'The Double'.

The Undercliff Walk was completed in 1933 as a seawall to prevent coastal erosion. A further section to Saltdean Gap was added in 1935. The sea defences at Ovingdean were rebuilt in 1995. (SD)

Lewis and Nell arrive at the County Borough of Brighton Registrars Office where Miss Pitts is more than happy to help. Princes Street, Brighton in Sussex, looking south towards Old Steine, with the entrance to Parochial Mews on the left located by Phil Bailey.

The location now by Phil.

A police car carrying Inspector Murray and Lewis Preston turns into the driveway of Delacorte's house. Looking from Sarum Chase towards the junction of Platt's Lane and West Heath Road in Hampstead NW3, located by Antony Blair.

Denis found that it was not be possible to get a comparative shot these days, partially due to the security gates, but mainly due to the notice advising that guard dogs are loose in the grounds. They started barking when he got too close! Being unable to take his customary accurate comparative shot he took this reverse shot supporting 'the reasons why'. (RL)

Jackson Delacorte recounts the evening that he saw Amos Colfax with Norma Brent (Patricia Burke) leave a pub in extremely high spirits. facing The Holly Bush public house on Holly Mount in NW3,

Denis was even barred entry to 'The Holly Bush', currently closed for refurbishment. (RL)

Having found Norma after her latest blackmail attempt, Jackson follows in the hope of getting her by herself. Holly Mount in Hampstead, a location also seen in ''Hampstead', 'The Killing of Sister George' and 'Finding Your Feet'.

Denis found a couple of the builders busy refurbishing the pub can just be seen behind the blue wheelie bins, taking a well deserved coffee break no doubt. (RL)

Colfax says goodnight to Norma and she goes indoors to Vichelski. The archway form part of number 17 Holly Mount NW3. Also seen in 'Les Bicyclettes de Belsize'.

Very little seems to change in Hampstead, apart from the appearance of a wheelie bin here and there. They seem to get everywhere these days Denis. (RL)

After the murderer is revealed, Alicia Preston returns to her husband. Facing south on Dean Street W1 with the corner of Bourchier Street on the right.

Taken during a rare gap in pedestrians. (PW)