Serious Charge

Establishing shots of fictional Bellington. This is outside the White Hart public house on High Street in Stevenage Old Town. The building is now a restaurant.

Cars dominate once again. (RL)

Facing north on High Street with the corner of Albert Street just right of centre.

A touch of redevelopment since 1959.(RL)

High Street at the junction of today's James Way. Shire Court has replaced the Texaco garage in the centre of the image.

Indeed so, and no more parking. (RL)

High Street at the junction with Albert Street, Stevenage.

And now. (RL)

The Juvenile Court where a delinquent Curley Thompson appears before the Magistrate. Unidentified location.

As they leave the youth club, Reverend Howard Phillips discuses Curley's case with Miss Langton, the Probation Officer. High Street Methodist Church at the corner of High Street and Sish Lane, Stevenage.

The church remains amid the all changes around. (RL)

Howard Phillips (Anthony Quayle) sees Miss Langton (Judith Furse) to her car. The background buildings have given way to a raised and widened Sish Lane.

With all the redevelopment it is not possible to pinpoint from where the Still was shot. (RL)

The Probation Officer drives towards the Vicarage. Facing south from the Bowling Green on High Street in Stevenage Old Town.

The hedge has certainly been allowed to grow. (RL)

Howard leaves the Vicarage when Miss Langton pulls up outside. Springfield House on High Street in Stevenage.

Now with disabled access. (RL)

The two talk about the previous evening's football match as they drive away. The building is now used as a community centre after being bequeathed to the town in the 1970s.

Now the Springfield House Community Centre. (RL)

Curley Thompson (Cliff Richard) waits to be collected by his Probation Officer and the Reverend. Barbara Swain advises that this Bertram House opposite the shops on Popple Way in Stevenage adding that the flats have since been demolished.

Curley crosses the road when the car arrives and is taken back to the court. The corner of Popple Way and Claymores in Stevenage with Bertram House in the background and Jowitt House in the left distance. Location recognised by Barbara Swain.

Howard greets Police Sergeant Harrison (Wensley Pithey) on his way to the greengrocer. High Street opposite the present day junction with Walkern Road.

No "local bobby" today. (RL)

The Reverend orders fruit from a depressed shop assistant, Mary Williams. High Street in Stevenage Old Town.

The doorway has completely changed but the white painted bricks are still very visible. (RL) Michael Garfield adds "Today, No. 28 is a Solicitor's practice. At the time of filming it was a greengrocers shop with a shoe shop next door."

The evening after visiting Howard, Mary Williams (Leigh Madison) walks through the streets thinking about Larry Thompson, the father of her unborn child.

Town Square, alongside the bus station on Danestrete, Stevenage. (PW)

As she crosses the road, Mary is shocked to see Larry with Michelle and turns to run before being knocked down by a lorry. The bus station on Danestrete at the corner of Town Square with Davant's furniture store standing in the background. The area was also seen in 'Here We go Round the Mulberry Bush'.

The bus station has been redesigned. (PW)

After the inquest, Howard leaves the Coroner's Court with Mrs. Williams. Sue Bradford identifies this as the old Courthouse and Police Station on Stanmore Road in Stevenage Old Town, Hertfordshire.

Larry Thompson (Andrew Ray) and Michelle (Liliane Brousse) share a cigarette outside the Court as the Sergeant talks with Howard about the inquest. Outside the Courthouse on Stanmore Road in Stevenage located by Sue Bradford.

Facing in the same direction now, taken by Sue.

As he leaves, the Reverend glances across at Larry, who he holds responsible for Mary's death. Sue Bradford recognised Stanmore Road at the junction with Walkern Road in Stevenage Old Town, looking from the front of the old Courthouse towards the steel work of a new office building under construction.

And Sue provides this view of the same location now.

As Hester Peters (Sarah Churchill) leaves the Post Office she sees Larry and Howard enter the Vicarage. The former Post Office near the present day Shire Court on High Street, Stevenage.

The "Penny Post" gives way to the digital age. The windows remain the same and a red post box covers the original box in the wall. (RL)

When Larry accuses the Reverend of molesting him when faced with knowledge of Mary's pregnancy, his father, Bill Thompson (Percy Herbert), visits Sergeant Harrison.

After facing Howard, Mr. Thompson believes that his son made the story up, but he is swayed when hearing Miss Peters' story.

Some places change very little. (RL)

The local Fishmonger (George Roderick) ensures that his delivery boy doesn't visit the Vicarage as gossip spreads. The shop stands next to the White Hart Inn on High Street. Location identified by Michael Garfield.

With thanks to Michael Garfield for spotting the location and adding "There is still a fish connection as the building is now 'Johnny's Fish Bar' ". The glazed white tiles remain as well but the Fish & Chip Bar now sells kebabs. (RL)

When returning to his car, Howard finds that someone has punctured a front tyre. The Co-operative store stands next to The White Hart on High Street.

And finally I made it to my optician out of shot to the right. (RL)

After his parishioners desert the church and threatening letters are received, Howard walks through town as Hester draws up on her scooter. The west side of High Street. I made a mistake with the actual location when I was there, this and serch026 are at 40/42 High Street, now the Co-op funeral services. One for next time. (RL)

A change to the upper floor of the shop with a bay window but otherwise much as it was in 1959 with O P Thurlow at No.40 High Street. (RL)

Hester makes it obvious that she doesn't wish to speak with Howard, the man she had hoped would become her husband.

O P Thurlow were at 40 High Street, Stevenage. (RL)

As he walks away, a clod of earth hits Howard's back and he turns to confront the thrower. High Street with The Yorkshire Grey public house on the right.

One is very limited as to where a shot can now be taken from. (RL)

Hester stands in the background as a Mother tries to keep control of her children. High Street in Stevenage Old Town. Michael Daly contacted us "That's me, left of centre, after throwing the clod of earth. I was about nine years old at the time. Also in the frame is my sister Ailish playing "mother" and my brother Connor. Because I am left handed the director had to move all the lighting and cameras to the other side as they were originally set up for a right handed thrower."

Is that the same tree? (RL)

The Mother apologises and the ostracised Reverend realises that one of the children threw the sod. High Street facing Orchard Road. The corner building in the centre of the picture was demolished and now James Way passes through the site.

Indeed so. (RL)

Bill Thompson and Howard Phillips end up fighting after a confrontation at the pub. Unidentified location.

The end of the film sees the slanders put to rest. Mrs. Phillips (Irene Browne) talks with Miss Langton outside the Vicarage when Howard appears after speaking with Hester inside. Springfield House on High Street.

No happy ending today. (RL)

As they are packing to leave the town, Howard's Mother calls that the Probation Officer has unfinished business in the back of her car. High Street in Stevenage looking across the Bowling Green towards The Yorkshire Grey public house. The pub is now a restaurant.

The pub, now a Grade II listed building, with happy memories for some http://ourstevenage.org.uk/page_id__75_path__0p23p.aspx (RL)

Miss Langton drives Howard and Curley away as Hester and Mrs. Phillips unpack the car. High Street, Stevenage with the Bowling Green to the right.

All very much the same after all these years. (RL)