System, The

A bridge and a railway station.Just seen in sys001b, Churston.

The bridge now has a modern replacement. SD

The top of the replacement bridge. SD

The carriage workshop to the right of the station was built in 1996. SD

And would you believe, it's the same bridge and station that was used in "Sons of the Sea", which is Churston Station near Dartmouth, Devon.

Now.

Seaside.

Boat Cove, Dawlish, Devon. My shot is reversed, as it was in the film. SD

Another railway station, or the same one? This is called Boxham Station in the film but in reality is was Brixham which has now been demolished and built over with holiday homes and bungalows.

This is where the station was situated. Now a garage block in Harbour View Close, Brixham. SD

The station closed in 1963 and the track was lifted shortly after filming. SD

Originally the station toilet block but now a garage block. SD

The houses built on the station forecourt, seen from Rope Walk Hill. SD

This would have been halfway down the station forecourt, facing the junction of Rope Walk Hill and Higher Furzham Road. SD

Facing Rope Walk Hill. SD

Facing Rope Walk Hill. SD

Once more. Junction of Rope Walk Hill and Higher Furzham Road. SD

The steps which led down from the front of the station to the bridge on Higher Furzham Road. Now viewed from beside the wall on the right of the bridge to save me clambering up the bank. SD

The seafront at Paignton, Devon confirmed by George Collings.

Eastern Esplanade, Paignton, near the pier. The other side of the split screen is by the Harbour Lights area facing the beach. SD

More of Paignton.

Dave confirms that it at least remains "seaside". (RL)

Paignton beach and pier, confirmed by George Collings.

Now. Paignton seafront beach and pier.

The seaside, confirmed to be Paignton by George Collings.

Now. Paignton seafront beach and pier.

The beach at Paignton in Devon.

Hmm, it doesn't have that summery feel about it Dave! (RL)

George Collings confirms this as the beach at Paignton with the Redcliffe Hotel in background.

Now. Paignton seafront beach and pier.

Palm Court Hotel, Torquay destroyed by fire in December 2010. (RL)

Whilst at the location for the other films Dave Wilson captured this shot as well. (RL)

Torquay's seafront confirms George Collings.

Dave Wilson pans slightly to the right from 22. (RL)

The Palm Court Hotel in Torquay.

Yes indeed, what was the elegant Palm Court Hotel on the Torquay seafront is still there and now complete with a Mojo Bar. Destroyed by fire in December 2010 (RL)

George Collings confirms Torbay Road in Torquay.

Now.

More of Torbay Road.

And another from Dave. (RL)

Outside the Palm Court Hotel on Torbay Road, Torquay in Devon.

Now.

Seaside, another or the same? Its with boats so it's a harbour not a bay. Do you know it?

Dave Wilson suggests, that bearing in mind surrounding shots are Torquay, this is also likely to be Torquay and now replaces this Google shot to support his point, regretting he did not have a camera crane to hand. Looks likely with that Zebra Crossing in the right place. (RL)

The Strand, Torquay with the Clock Tower at the very right of the capture and the slipway to the inner harbour on the left confirmed by Rachel Allard.

Dave also suggests that this is almost a reverse of an earlier capture and now replaces his Google shot with one of his own. Clearly we now all know which way to go round a roundabout now and don't need painted arrows. (RL)

Nice house. Do you know where? Dave Wilson has found where it is, what is now Rowcroft Hospice, Avenue Road, Torquay. (RL)

What is now Rowcroft Hospice, Avenue Road, Torquay, Devon, with thanks to Dave Wilson. (RL)

The shelter was on the Eastern Esplanade, Paignton. (SD)

The shelter was demolished to make way for the Festival Theatre which opened in 1967. The theatre is now the Vue cinema. SD

The beach at Paignton confirms Rachel Allard.

No, it definitely was not a day to strip off when Dave Wilson went. (RL)

Dave Wilson captured the scene on a less favourable day. (RL)

There is at least more colour in Dave's shot. (RL)

Paignton Pier. Redesigned but still selling fish and chips. SD

Now. Paignton seafront and pier.

Dave Wilson captures the sad effect that time has had. (RL)

Rachel Allard places this as Torquay’s Promenade with the Princess Pier in the background.

Torquay promenade with the Princess Pier in the background. SD

Torquay Promenade with Abbey Sands in the background advises Rachel Allard.

Torquay promenade, facing Torbay Road. SD

This is Brixham Harbour, Rachel Allard tells us.

Nothing's changed.

Now. Brixham.

Now. Brixham.

Oliver Reed gives his sour opinion of the quayside auction to David Hemmings on The Strand in Brixham, Devon, also used in 'Churchill: The Hollywood Years' some 40 years later.

Some buildings of Fore Street are visible in the background says Dave Wilson. (RL)

Local heavyweight Alfred (Derek Newark) advises Reed and Co. to go elsewhere as they stand on a part of Brixham Harbour, Devon .

Dave Wilson found less tension during his visit to what is now designated part of the South West Coastal Path. (RL)

A later evening scene sees Tinker fighting with Alfred at a dance hall. David Styles tells us that the confrontation took place at the 400 Ballroom in Torquay where the band featured was The Laurie Jay Combo. David was an extra in ballroom scenes and appears twice in the final cut. "I was one of four chaps from Kent who were camping at Goodrington, near Paignton, at the time. It was quite an eye-opener to see the film making process, as the fight on the stairs was repeated about thirteen times and the stunt man reputedly broke his arm during the fall."

Brixham!! Easey Peasey, nothing's changed.

Tinker visits his employer Larsey at his snap-shot shop.

Now. Brixham.

Pub and courtyard.

Is in fact the Harbour Lights pub restaurant and area in Paignton.

The Harbour Lights public house near Paignton Harbour located by Rachel Allard.

The Harbour Lights now.

The Harbour Lights pub restaurant and car park in Paignton.

Is in fact the Harbour Lights pub restaurant and area in Paignton.

Is in fact the Harbour Lights pub restaurant and area in Paignton.

Is in fact the Harbour Lights pub restaurant and area in Paignton.

Is in fact the Harbour Lights pub restaurant and area in Paignton.

Is in fact the Harbour Lights pub restaurant and area in Paignton.

Is in fact the Harbour Lights pub restaurant and area in Paignton.

This is The fish market, Brixham Quay. (SD)

The fish market was demolished in 1969. SD

Ferry, could it be where they made 'Sons of the Sea'? Nigel Young advises that this is the Dartmouth to Kingswear Lower Ferry crossing towards the slipway at the Royal Dart public house in Kingswear.

Now.

The Lower Ferry Slip located by Nigel Young.

Dave Wilson captured this shot of that very same place whilst he was in Dartmouth. (RL)

Heading east on Duke Street in Dartmouth recognised by Nigel Young with Butterwalk to the left confirmed by George Collings.

Dear old Dartmouth and its ferry . . . this is looking to the Royal Avenue Gardens which used to be the Coronation Park.

Facing Royal Avenue Gardens in Dartmouth identified by Nigel Young.

Now.

Someone suggested it was Cornwall, which after all is just down the road but Nigel advises that it's Hallsands in the background.

Found by David Collins, this is Hallsands. The beach in front of the ruined village no longer exists, and as I discovered, is now mostly large slippery rocks. SD

David Collins points out that this is actually the ruined village of Hallsands on the S. Devon coast, west of Slapton and Torcross. (RL)

Now.

Once again the ruined village of Hallsands on the S. Devon coast, west of Slapton and Torcross says David Collins. (RL)

The village was destroyed by a storm in 1917 and only two cottages remained habitable. The last resident of Hallsands, Elizabeth Prettejohn, lived in the larger cottage until her death in 1964. SD

The ruined village of Hallsands on the S. Devon coast, west of Slapton and Torcross from another angle says David Collins. (RL)

Now, viewed from the beach. Access to the village is not permitted. SD

David Collins points out that this is also the ruined village of Hallsands on the S. Devon coast, west of Slapton and Torcross. (RL)

The cottage viewed from the clifftop. The two remaining cottages were used as holiday homes until a landslide in 2012 made access unsafe. SD

Facing Torquay Pavilion advises Rachel Allard.

Dave Wilson captured that very place, Pavilion Theatre, Torquay, currently closed, in daylight. (RL)

A further shot of the Pavilion Theatre, Torquay from Dave without a car in the foreground. (RL)

Beacon Quay, Torquay, by the public convenience which was opposite Haddon Pier. (SD)

This is now a service area behind the rebuilt toilets. SD

The same area now. SD

Beacon Quay public convenience with a clubhouse to the right of it. (SD)

Now a service area behind the rebuilt toilets. SD

The clubhouse. (SD)

Now, the rebuilt toilets below Beacon Quay car park, and to the right, the entrance to Living Coasts. SD

Back to the service area. SD

To the right of the two storey car park, Beacon Quay. Only two of the old warehouses (numbered 9 and 10) remained after the car park was built. SD

Now they too are gone after the car park was rebuilt and extended. SD

Ray Cutler places this as taken from the car park at the end of Torquay Harbour just before the old Marine Spa (later Coral Island and now Living Coasts. (RL)

The quayside has been extended and a slipway added. The car park has been rebuilt and now has shops and cafes on the ground floor. SD

Ray Cutler also places this as taken from the car park at the end of Torquay Harbour just before the old Marine Spa (later Coral Island and now Living Coasts. (RL)

The rebuilt car park. SD

Not another nice house, but the same nice house as in 007. Indeed it is, what is now Rowcroft Hospice, Avenue Road, Torquay, Devon, with thanks to Dave Wilson. (RL)

What is now Rowcroft Hospice, Avenue Road, Torquay, Devon, with thanks to Dave Wilson. (RL)

What is now Rowcroft Hospice, Avenue Road, Torquay, Devon, with thanks to Dave Wilson. (RL)

What is now Rowcroft Hospice, Avenue Road, Torquay, Devon, with thanks to Dave Wilson. (RL)

House on the beach at Elberry Cove, near Goodrington, Devon located by SD and confirmed by Simon Crabtree.

The ruined building is the Elberry Bath House built for Lord Churston. Viewed from the beach as the view from the clifftop was totally obscured by bushes. SD