They Knew Mr. Knight

As her husband Thomas ponders about the future of Simpson's works where he is employed, Celia Blake looks out from an upstairs window of number 17 The Grove. the family's home in fictional Trentham.

Tom Blake (Mervyn Johns) waves back at his wife after setting off to catch the train to Leicester.

At the station in the city, Tom buys his ticket as Mr. Knight's Bentley draws up outside. Victoria station on Milton Street in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire.

Gregor Baddley explains that although Nottingham's Victoria Station closed in 1967, the clock tower was incorporated into the Victoria shopping centre.

After catching Mr. Knight after he slip on the steps to the platform, Tom walks to the train with the well known financier. The double stairway and signal gantry to the left certainly suggest that this is the real Nottingham Victoria station.

Bells ring out over the city on the following Sunday. This appears to be a view looking eastward over Nottingham in Nottinghamshire.

The congregation leave church where Mr. Berry makes comment to Tom about his first class journey with Mr. Knight. The church of St, Mary the Virgin on High Pavement, Nottingham.

Antony Blair found himself in Nottingham 76 years after filming.

In The Swan, Tom's brother Edward explains to the Landlady that he's never had a job that he thought was worth doing so he's never kept one.

As they walk back from Grandma's house, Mr. Knight's car approaches the Blake family. Does Nottingham have any terraces where the party walls extend above the roof line?

Celia (Nora Swinburne), Freda (Joyce Howard), Douglas (Peter Hammond) and Ruth (Joan Greenwood) turn as Lawrence Knight (Alfred Drayton) leans forward to ask Tom if he can give them a lift.

Tom is surprised to see his new acquaintance and accepts the ride.

Mr. Knight's Daimler arrives outside 17 The Grove.

On another day, Thomas Blake again travels with Mr. Knight and the pair discuss Simpson's engineering works on the journey.

At Leicester, the train comes to a halt in the station where Tom alights after Mr. Knight promises to look into his affairs. This does appear to be Leicester Central station on Great Central Street in Leicester, Leicestershire.

The Blake family are driven to Field Place, Mr. Knight's home in the country. Pendell Court on Pendell Road, Bletchingley, Surrey, now 'The Hawthorns School'. (RL)

Ruth comments about the house before the family enter to meet Mrs. Knight. Pendell Court, Pendell Road, Bletchingley in Surrey, now 'The Hawthorns School'. (RL)

Driving the Blake's home, Mr. Knight's Chauffeur keeps his eye on the road as Tom tells Celia that he's going to buy Simpson's works.

A shot over Trentham moves to find Simpson's engineering works. This panorama appears to have be taken from Nottingham Castle with the roof of the Castle warehouse running along the bottom of the view.

The short sequence ends on the factory where Tom has taken up his position as Managing Director. Nottingham, with the Trent Navigation Company warehouse beyond the Castle warehouse and the tall LMS Railway warehouse beyond. The foreground building belongs to the Castle Waterworks.

Opening the door of his office, Tom looks out over the works.

As she walks towards the bus to the works, Celia notices a poster announcing the Annual Twelfth Night Ball being held at Trentham City Hall. The western end of Old Market Square in Nottingham with the railings of the public lavatories opposite Beast Market Hill on the right and Long Row in the top left background.

The trolleybus pulls away with Celia on board. Facing east towards Old Market Square, Nottingham with Long Row and Smithy Row to the left of the Council House and Cheapside, Poultry and South Parade on the right.

From ground level, Gregor Baddley captures this view of the Old Market Square as it appears now.

That evening, Mr. Knight's Bentley brings Freda Blake home.

After the family move to Fairholme, a larger house, a better lifestyle sees Douglas cycles into frame as he rides towards the college that he's attending in Cambridge. St. John’s Street in Cambridge with St. John’s College to the left. A similar view can be found in 'The Scarlet Thread' as well as 'Hide and Seek'.

And an obliging cyclist appears. SJ

The camera follows Douglas as he parks his bike. The entrance to Trinity College on Trinity Street, Cambridge.

A slight reduction in bike numbers which is rather surprising. (RL)

Ruth travels to Paris to further her education. A view of the Eiffel Tower, possibly a stock shot or even a painting.

Mr. and Mrs. Knight leave Trentham for London, selling Field Place to the Blakes. Nottingham Victoria station.

With debts mounting as orders for the works decline, Tom is advised to sell everything and buy shares in Knight's latest venture, Kosmos.

Shares in Kosmos continue to rise until one day, Tom reads in the morning paper that the company has sensationally collapsed.

Facing ruin, Thomas Blake travels to London. Facing Grosvenor Place from Grosvenor Crescent in SW1.

The tree has thrived, obscuring the quadriga on Wellington Arch. To the right is the Peninsular Hotel, scheduled to open in 2023, which replaced the bank seen in "Perfect Friday" which replaced the building seen in the original shot on the right. SJ

Tom calls at the house of Mr. Knight to be told that he's not at home. Facing number 47 Belgrave Square SW1.

On the north-east side. "Helter Skelter" used next door as an establishment shot in this well-loved-on-film square. SJ

After Knight demands £2000, ordering him to sell Field Place, Tom returns to Trentham.

Celia waits for her husband to arrive before learning that he owes over £12,000.

After the families ties with Mr. Knight are severed when the bank bails her father out, Ruth is saddened by the sale of Field Place.

Ruth tells her sister that they have to move back to The Grove.

The Blakes move back into their old home in the suburbs of Trentham.

Celia leaves court after Tom is sentenced to twelve month imprisonment for fraud. Nottingham Guildhall on Burton Street, Nottingham. (RL)

Richard Winchester found the building impressive but empty.

The gates to the side of the court open as Celia approaches. Nottingham Guildhall, Burton Street in Nottingham, where the gates and gateway have since been removed. (RL)

Taking this comparison, Richard Winchester explains that that there appear to have been various plans and ideas in place to renovate the old city centre building for over a decade.

Celia watches a van take Tom away to jail as Chief Inspector Burnley calls on Mr. Knight at his Belgravia address. Nottingham Guildhall, Burton Street, Nottingham although the gates and gateway have now been removed. (RL)

Richard Winchester tells us that energy supplier E.ON are based in the modern office building next to the former Guildhall.

On the day of Tom's release, Celia waits outside the prison. In front of Lincoln Prison on Greetwell Road, Lincoln in Lincolnshire.

The forecourt is no longer cobbled. SJ

A door in the prison gate opens and Thomas Blake walks to freedom. The gates of Lincoln Prison on Greetwell Road.

Little change though the ivy has gone. SJ

Husband and wife embrace before moving away from the gaol. Lincoln Prison on Greetwell Road in Lincoln. The prison gates also feature in 'Band of Thieves' and 'The Promise'.

Now. SJ

The couple reach the grounds of the Cathedral. Looking towards the Old Palace from Minster Yard in Lincoln.

Richard Winchester provides this view of the location now.

Tom comments that it's funny that the Cathedral and the prison stand side by side before the two enter the house of God. The Cathedral church of the Blessed Virgin Mary seen from Priory Gate in Lincoln.

It wasn't so easy for Richard Winchester to get a good view with a mature tree in the way.

The film draws to an end with a view of the Cathedral. Lincoln Cathedral standing on Minster Yard in Lincoln, Lincolnshire.