Wee Sonny MacGregor

'Tis indeed. This house was built on land owned by the Forwood family, of whom Dirk's "manager" was a member. The front page of the local paper in 1962 reported the earth mound along the lines of "Bogarde's Barricade"! He fought the plans for the school all the way to a public enquiry.

Melissa Stribling was interviewed by the local paper in 1968. It seems that living in the country did not suit that much. When they lived in London, their friends could just drop in, but it wasn't so easy living out in the country and they felt "cut off". They moved back with of course a tragic result. Melissa Stribling died in 1997 not 1971. Dearden was only 60 when he died but he left a pretty fine body of work in my opinion.

theuofc

Hello, WSM,

Always lovely talking Bogarde. When the Forwoods bought the Beel Estate to add to their adjacent land, they simultaneously sold the existing Beel House and several acres of land to Bogarde. Before this, Dirk had rented Bendrose House from the Forwoods for a number of years before the Beel purchase. Tony was Dirk's "manager" as you say; he was also, of course, his loving companion for more than 40 years. A great couple.

I much appreciate the correct information about Melissa Stribling. It reminds me once again to check -two- sources. I took her death information from a good source, but like all sources, there are errors, alas. I have since checked a second source, the DNB, and you are quite correct. Ironically, even the stellar DNB contains errors because like all reference works, its contributors have at times relied too heavily on less-than reliable, or out-of-date, and/or incomplete sources. So I am grateful at no longer perpetuating an error.

With an eye toward research, were the archived newspaper articles you refer to from the Bucks Examiner, the Amersham Examiner, or...?

Again, thanks for a most interesting post.

Best,

Barbara

room 237

Thankyou to all those who have given their comments on the website The Halfway House Revisited. Please sign the guest book if you wish and leave your comments. For those who would like to get there please click this link.
http//:www.carlcorway.cc | My Beautiful Ealing

room 237

The railway station used in the halfway house was East Anstey Exmoor Devon look to the website for updated Pictures of the Halfway House, as well as a feature concerning this station. Dont forget if visiting this site to leave a message in the guestbook.

room 237

Many railway stations past & present were investigated and closely examined to see if they were in fact the stations used in the halfway house. None of them were the stations used. Dulverton railway station which really is Brushford station was a very good candidate but unfortunately there were many parts of this station which were different to that of the one used in the film. Even 62 years or so on i know there would have been some modifications done to the building as well as its surroundings. But the differences i found were not the result of any modifications. The now owner who is converting this station into a home has kept to as much detail as possible and has not changed the structure of this building. the only part which was different is that the roof may have been lowered by about 3" inches or more.
The bridge also was in the wrong position almost on a slight skew where as the bridge in the film is almost square.

I have been told but do not know how true this is and i cannot prove this until i am able to get hold of the guestbook. But it seems that most of the cast and some of the crew had checked into the Carnarvon arms hotel which is adjacent to the station. Although no longer a hotel it still stands today with its clock tower in place.

Another station was looked at although now the original station has gone this is Bampton there was something which caught my eye about the bridge as well as a hut on the opposite platform to that of the station but unfortunately this too was not the station used although i do know it was looked at prior to shooting the movie.
There are good reasons why certain locations were used this was a country which was still at war with Germany and there were certain areas of the country side which were used by the British military and some stations were being used to transport and distribute munitions. So the makers of the halfway house had to make use of what ever they could find to shoot this film. I do know that Wales was the chosen place to make this film but why the decision was made not to film there is anyones guess? but considering the views as well as the country side at that time looked very much like Wales this area was the Area used for the majority of all the shooting.
The Prison used where Fortescue was held is most likely dartmoor prison although at the moment i am not in any psoition to prove that.
So far as my work is concerned for the time being on these locations i am finnished with this for the time being but the website still has some way to go yet in showing you all the other pictures and information i have collected. if you feel you want to visit it go to www.carlcorway.cc

room 237

The location here was uncovered by carlito Corway and can be veiwed at www.carlcorway.cc | My Beautiful Ealing
The sites actual name is My Beautiful Ealing.

Ealingfilmfan

Many thanks to "benchcluttocks "and Carlito for their sterling detective work, re this location, very much appreciated.

"Just room for one inside sir"

Joenoir

I watched a programme recently that revisted the locations used in this film, did anyone else see it, or did I dream it

Start every day with a smile and get it over with.

Jim

Rats! I love that filum - the lovely Glynis Johns and of course her dad Mervyn. And it contained a bit of camera trickery too - where Gj and MJ were to cast no shadow as they walked over the lawn!! Spookey?

Good morning boys.

Joenoir

You mean the name of the programme? I really couldn't say, I didn't set out to watch it, it was one of those programmes that are on when you switch the television on and you become somewhat hooked by them. Sorry, I couldn't say what channel it was on either.

Start every day with a smile and get it over with.

Steve Crook

Nothing listed on DigiGuide.
Maybe you did dream it

Steve

Joenoir

Steve, I am now begining to question my own sanity! However, if it was a dream shouldn't the film be Dead of Night?

Start every day with a smile and get it over with.

Steve Crook

You don't have to be insane to dream something

Steve

soomass

The station is definately EAST ANSTEY station,I know this because we were living in East Anstey at the time and my step-father was the signalman there.I used to catch the train there every morning to go to work.

TimR

I saw "Halfway House" recently and thought it was outstanding. It had been difficult to find in the US - now it is more available.

I became interested in where it was filmed - and I assumed this was the place to go for information. Well, here it is. Thanks to all of you detectives for this thread. It answers every question I had and many I would not have thought of asking.

And that www.carlcorway.cc | My Beautiful Ealing site is a gem.