Location
Does anyone know where the main outside location was filmed?
shareThe main road with buses and trams is the Lambeth Road, London SE1 (the A3203). At least two of the buildings visible on the far side of Lambeth Road in the film still existed in 2005 almost unchanged at the junction with Hercules Road.
The scenes with the Customs post/passport control where the crowd throws food to the Burgandians is on the South side of Lambeth Road at its junction with Sail Street. Part of that was still open space in 2005.
The "Bridge Garage" visible at several points in the film existed for many years and its location under the arches of the railway viaduct can still be seen (2007).
The railway line above the viaduct and Bridge is the mainline (the old southern Railway) just south of Waterloo Station where the Eurostar trians ran until recently.
The bombsite with the WW2 Water tank was also in this locality, a little to the east of the present Sail Street. A photo does exist on "Reel Streets" website showing the location of the site in relation to the Bridge Garage. A clue as to the exact location might be found by comparing the location with the white church tower which still remains (the rest of the church was bombed) at the corner of Kennington Road and Westminister Bridge Road. Just walk up Hercules Road to Lambeth North tube station.
Prewar the south side of the Lambeth Road was all terraced housing. Sail Street did not reach the Lambeth Road but stopped in a parallel road called Saville Place. Between this and the Lambeth Road was yet another road of houses called Canterbury Road. Almost all of this area was lost after the war. The lost junction of Canterbury Place and Lambeth Walk is almost certainly the location of the water main where the policeman meets the drunk on the bicycle in PtoP.
Although many of these sites have been completely rebuilt, there is sufficient remaining to make the area worth a visit if one is near Waterloo Station - less than a 10 minute walk away.
Thank you for your detailed reply, appreciated.
shareVisited the locations today - the first time in a few years. The Public House seen near the start of the film, across the Lambeth Road is now "The Corner Cafe" - on the junction of Lambeth Road and Hercules Road.
The "Bridge Garage" under the Railway arches is now two or three separate "Lock-up" commercial units. A lot of money has been spent to smarten up all of the units under the railway in the last 2 years and many are studios for film and advertising, offices etc.
After the bomb sites were cleared in the 1950s, the London County Council built blocks of flats (apartments) for social housing on the open area where much of the filming took place. This is now called "China Walk" and the blocks of flats are named after UK ceramic (china) makers - including Wedgwood and Doulton. This was done because of the areas earlier association with the (Royal) Doulton Lambeth pottery.
This estate is bounded on the south side by Lambeth Walk where many of the period terraced houses typical of the streets surrounding the bombsite can still be seen.
Tony
I pass through that area on my way to Elephant & Castle on a regular basis. The Corner Cafe rings a bell, think I've seen it but not noticed the name, but the next time I'm in the area I will have to look out for it.
I know the flats you are referring to, but never really took any notice of what they were called.
I grew up in Kennington, so seeing areas that I am familiar with from my youth on film is fascinating.
Font
interesting stuff!
thanks for sharing Anthonytaylov
Thanks for this. I just watched the film and couldn't see any resemblance to Pimlico!
Released in 1949 and still all those bombed out buildings in the background and everyday traffic in the foreground, it was a bit shocking to see.