Every London location that I used is an actual place. Most of these are associated with the Sixties, but there are a few that, although they do exist, are in no way part of that particular history, such as the house in Hillsleigh Road. I simply borrowed them for the book. I have created an interactive map of all these locations, as well as all of those that are outside London, at CommunityWalk, which you are invited to explore.
SOHO:
During the Sixties, London's Westminster neighborhood of Soho was the center of the universe for the young generation. The small, approximately one square mile area was crowded with night clubs, bars, pubs, restaurants, sex shops, and cheap-rent flats. No wonder the young entrepreneurs set up shop there, drawing the youth of the city to their doors. Fittingly, Beyond The Bridge begins at the Marquee Club in Soho, in 1966.
The Marquee Club
90 Wardour Street
The original exterior
Original seating area to the right of the stage.
Led Zeppelin at the Marquee in 1968
The Scotch of St. James
13 Masons Yard
(Now the Directors Lodge Club)
Pattie Boyd in the Scotch with the Merseybeats, 1965.
Ground floor
Basement
(Many thanks to the Friends of the Scotch of St. James for these floor plans)
The Bag O' Nails
9 Kingly Street
November 1966: Tuppence sees Jimi Hendrix perform for the first time
The interior in the Sixties.
The interior today.
The Ship
116 Wardour Street
January 1968: Gordon and Felicity meet for drinks
after introducing themselves at Kleptomania.
Carnaby Street
January 1968: Gordon and Felicity meet.
GREATER LONDON:
The Hammond Home and Hammond Electrical Supply
Fullham Palace Road, Hammersmith
Gordon's family lived in the top two floors.
The door on the right is the private entrance to the home.
The corner door opens into the shop.
The door on the right is the private entrance to the home.
The corner door opens into the shop.
Piccadilly Tube Station
Piccadilly Circus, Westminster
A busker in the Piccadilly tube station, where Gordon was
discovered by one of the owners of the Marquee Club.
Gordon's Terrace House
Hillsleigh House, Hillsleigh Road, Notting Hill, Kensington
Trevor's Mum's Flat
Voltaire Road, Clapham
Trevor lived with his mother and step-father on the second floor (third floor, U.S.).
Willy's Childhood Home
Claverdale Road, Lambeth
Willy was raised by his grandparents in this tidy terrace house.
Felicity's Flat
Lyall Mews, Bellgravia
Entrance to Lyall Mews.
Felicity's flat.
The Pheasantry
Kings Road, Chelsea
Eric Clapton's flat.
Kinfauns
Claremont Drive, Esher
George Harrison outside his home, Kinfauns.
The living room, with the fireplace mural that was painted by The Fool.
Brian Jones' Flat
13 Chester Square, Bellgravia
Royal Tunbridge Wells:
Royal Tunbridge Wells is located about 35 miles southeast of London. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was an exclusive spa village that catered to the aristocracy. It has since given way to tourism due to its charming architecture, shops, and beautiful countryside.
The Pantiles, the main shopping and strolling area.
Reynolds Lane, where Chadwicke Park is located.
Chadwicke Park
Reynolds Lane, Royal Tunbridge Wells
The entrance to Gordon Hammond's Kentish estate, Chadwicke Park, is located on the outside of a sharp bend in Reynold's Lane. While the 23-acre boot-shaped plot of land actually exists, there is no estate on it. I selected this property as the location for the estate because of its proximity to the village. While it is close in, it is also private, providing believability that it had been built long ago as the country estate of a ennobled squire.
Chadwicke Park is divided into three terraces referred to as the upper, middle, and lower gardens. Chadwicke Hall, the manor house, sits in the center of the upper garden and faces due east. Click to enlarge.
By comparing an overhead view of Gunthorpe Hall with the floor plans of Chadwicke Hall, it's clear that I took liberties for the sake of the story. The exterior of the main section of the Hall has remained unchanged, but I added symmetrical, abbreviated wings to each side. I also moved the formal side garden, with its fountain, to the back of the house.
As for the rooms of the Hall, Gunthorpe provided plenty of inspiration!
The Blue Room.
Back corridor.
The kitchen.
Batsford Arboretum
Gloucestershire, England
Chartwell
Kent, England
Ashcombe Maze
Victoria, Australia
A few unidentified gardens inspired the Park...
...as well as the gardens at Gunthorpe estate itself:
Friar Park
Oxfordshire, England
Although I didn't use George Harrison's estate for direct inspiration, I did have George, who was a dedicated and gifted gardener, advise Gordon on how he should renovate Chadwicke Park's grounds.
More to Come!
