Hanbury Street Back yard photo

[Jason]

the james mason documentary footage is just amazing ! when Stewart Evans talks about first visiting hanbury Street back in the 60s i can really see what must have been so captivating. I have always wondered whether that lady in the video actually lived there or was put there for the benefit of letting JM in the property. Were these properties purchased on a compulsary basis when the decision was made to knock them down ?

[Rixa]

I have Streets of East London, and was going to ask about that back yard photo some day. Looks like I was spared the effort.

I like the picture, wish it was in better quality. Wasn't it mentioned in another thread that the black Jack the Ripper board is back in Ten Bells after a lengthy break? Perhaps they still have this board in store as well.

Meanwhile, I just placed an order on the James Mason documentary. I had no idea that such footage existed.

[Wolf Vanderlinden]

Because even without the wooden cover over the door, there's just no way that Richardson could have checked the cellar padlock without coming down the steps into the yard. None.

Mrs. Richardson, recalled… My son now comes to see whether it is all right almost every morning before he goes to market. [Coroner] Do you understand that he goes down to the cellar door? [Mrs. Richardson] No, he can see from the steps.
The Eastern Post, Saturday September 15, 1888.

Wolf.

[Stephen Thomas]

I think the above should read nos. 33 and 35 Hanbury Street.

[Stephen Thomas]

The picture is taken from an odd angle, isn't it. If John is right about the time of the photo, maybe it was taken from a crane brought in to carry out the demolition.

Hi GM

There was a 3 storey factory which occupied the garden space of nos. 31 and 33 Hanbury Street so the photo was probably taken from there.

[The Grave Maurice]

Jeez, that's a good point. I thought you were going to say that, if he sat on the step, he wouldn't have been able to see the body to his left. Hmmm. Maybe we should all move Richardson a notch or two up the suspect list.

[Magpie]

Why, exactly?

Because even without the wooden cover over the door, there's just no way that Richardson could have checked the cellar padlock without coming down the steps into the yard. None.

[The Grave Maurice]

Was that photo taken from a scaffold?

Good point, Stan. The picture is taken from an odd angle, isn't it. If John is right about the time of the photo, maybe it was taken from a crane brought in to carry out the demolition.

[The Grave Maurice]

Seeing that picture re-enforces my belief that Richardson was lying through his teeth at the inquest.

Why, exactly?

[The Grave Maurice]

Just watched The London Nobody Knows and saw James Mason in the yard. Is there anyone cooler than him?

Doubt it. The jacket, the cap, the brolly: perfect. The guy had a lot of class. I hear that John Bennett can do a pretty good impression of him, but I haven't had the advantage of seeing it.

[Garry Wroe]

For anyone who hasn't seen the James Mason documentary, I once posted some screen caps on another thread:-

http://forum.casebook.org/showthread.php?t=4135

[Steven Russell]

Just watched The London Nobody Knows and saw James Mason in the yard. Is there anyone cooler than him? Oddly enough, before I knew this film existed, I jokingly offered my services as a JM impersonator to a Casebook member who was (and I hope still is) planning a video tour.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Jason]

it is a brilliant photo, so eerie and atmospheric yet probably the single reason why the recreation of 29 HS back yard has been so good in films to date.....

[sdreid]

Was that photo taken from a scaffold?

[Magpie]

Seeing that picture re-enforces my belief that Richardson was lying through his teeth at the inquest.