Unseeing Eye, The (A Scotland Yard supporting feature)

Edgar Lustgarten narrates "Second only to crime as a threat to people and property is fire. A threat against which the London Fire Brigade, a force of highly trained and courageous men, stands in constant readiness."

"A threat often increased by carelessness or stupidity, by failure to take sensible precautions in the home. But occasionally, the cause of an outbreak of fire cannot be called accidental."

"The present case began when a Night Worker returning home along a sleepy London street saw dense smoke and flames pouring from a disused building. He at one raised the alarm."

"An hour later, the Fire Brigade's work was done. That of the Police, just beginning. But already, Scotland Yard had been called in."

After examining a badly burned body found inside the building following the fire, everything pointed to murder. Nevern Place SW5 with the corner of Templeton Place to the centre.

Rather a cluttered view on my visit. SJ

Superintendent Duggan (Russell Napier) and Detective Sergeant Nixon (John Stone) call on Henry Bower, the owner of the burnt out premises who was now the proprietor of a small hotel in Kensington. Nevern Place with Earl's Court Road in the right distance.

On the. north side of the street. SJ

"Meanwhile, Murder Quad Detectives questioned People who lived near the scene of the crime."

Enquiries also spread to petrol stations over a wide area, where Staff were asked "Had anyone brought in jerry cans for filling during the last few days?"

When an artificial eye is found during the post mortem, eye and military hospitals throughout Britain are visited by Detectives and records consulted. The Royal Eye Hospital on St, Georges Circus SE1.

The hospital, mostly alongside Waterloo Road by St George's Circus, closed in 1980 and was replaced by McLaren House, a student hall of residence for South Bank University, completed in 1996. This is a deliberate wider shot to show the area. From memory when I lived nearby in the 80s, I believe the sign was on the left (Waterloo Road) side. SJ

Every known wearer of an artificial eye who's physical characteristics were similar to the murder victim was checked . . .

. . . and if he could not be traced in person, there had to be a good reason why. Peter Bywaters identifies the pair of semi-detached homes as numbers 29 and 31 Erridge Road, Merton SW19, then in Surrey, just around a mile away from Merton Park Studios.

Peter explains that the house with two chimneys seen in the top left of the screen capture was demolished circa 1987 to make way for Hazelbury Close, a "back garden" development.

When the manufacturer of the eye was suspected to be from the USA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was contacted. The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI building seen from the corner of 10th Street North West and Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C.

There was no chance of Rachel Bolton-King going hungry whilst taking this view.

The FBI enlisted the help of the Department of Defense where detailed records are kept on millions of United States Army, Navy and Air Force veterans. The Pentagon Building in Arlington, Virginia.

As the public began to lose interest in the case, Wendy Green (Denny Dayviss) returned from her summer holiday. Morden underground station on London Road in Morden, Surrey located by Richard Lovejoy.

Noting that fashion has changed since the1950s, Peter Bywaters captured the entrance to Morden Underground station 65 years on.

Back at work, Wendy is told about the murder case and contacts the police after remembering selling two jerry cans of petrol.

Returning from enquiring about a room at Henry Bower's hotel, Wendy gets into the back of the Superintendent Duggan's car.

Sitting with the Superintendent, Wendy tells him that she recognised Mrs. Bower as the woman who purchased the petrol.

The car drives Superintendent Duggan back to Scotland Yard from where Sergeant Nixon escorts Miss Green home.

When the FBI match the artificial eye with John Bassett, an artist in Paris, the Superintendent flies to the French capital. Looking across les Jardins du Trocadéro in the 16th arrondissement towards the Eiffel Tower across the River Seine.

Met by a Detective of the Sûreté, Superintendent Duggan is driven to Bassett's studio.

The camera pans with the Citroën Traction Avant.

After the Superintendent learns that Bassett was staying at a small hotel in Kensington before the fire, Sergeant Grant (Garard Green) is made up to look like the dead man before paying a visit to the Mr. Bower. Facing number 34 Nevern Place in SW5.

Looks tidier now. SJ

Eddie Brown (Richard Graydon) makes his way to the roof when Superintendent Duggan and Sergeant Nixon knock on the door of the room he forced the Bower's to give him. The rooftops of terraced buildings on Nevern Place with the back of flats on Nevern Square to the top left.

The escaped convict makes his way around a chimney. The rear of properties on Longridge Road cross the background.

As the Superintendent makes a telephone call to the Fire Brigade, Sergeant Nixon follows Brown onto the roof. The rooftops above Nevern Place from where buildings on Nevern Road can be seen to the top right.

Seeing the Sergeant move behind the chimney pots, Brown fires his gun. in the left background behind the tree and tall chimney is the junction of Longridge Road and Templeton Place.

Sergeant Nixon breaks cover. 31 Nevern Place stands to the left while in the distance can be seen the roof of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre

In the street below, Superintendent Duggan tells Sergeant Grant that Brown is on the roof. Outside 34 Nevern Place in SW5.

All as was. SJ

Brown appears above the parapet of the hotel. The upper floors of numbers 34 and 32 Nevern Place.

A slightly duller day. SJ

Sergeant Grant and the Superintendent walk around a corner keeping an eye on the rooftops. The corner of Templeton Place and Nevern Place.

Looking south. SJ

Another squad car approaches. Facing north-east on Templeton Place with Longridge Road crossing the background and properties on West Cromwell Road in the distance.

The road today. SJ

Superintendent Duggan gives directions to the Driver. Templeton Place in Earl's Court.

Panning right from previous shot. SJ

After shooting and injuring Sergeant Nixon, Brown makes his way to the edge of the roof. Looking across at the roof of 24 Nevern Place at the corner of Templeton Place.

Looking down, the murderer makes a decision. Looking along Templeton Place with Longridge Road in the centre right and West Cromwell Road beyond.

Unable to find a way down, Brown hangs from the parapet as the Fire Brigade arrive on the scene. Looking up at the upper floors of 26 Nevern Place SW5.

The railing at the top of the roof seems to have gone. SJ