Woolwich Ferry Approach Box

[hb88banzai]

The Box on the Woolwich Ferry Approach - R9

A grab from the 1959 classic Willis O'Brien film "The Giant Behemoth" --



From 1956 --



Blowup of the 1956 photo --



Blowup of an aerial shot taken some time in the 1930's (note the Telephone Kiosks are also in the same position as the later photo) --



Now, street view poses a bit of a problem, because when they built the new docks they completely rerouted the Ferry Approach and almost everything else in the area has also changed. The current Approach is around 150 yards to the West of the old one, meaning the actual Site is now underneath the Waterfront Leisure Centre.

Following the line of Hare Street, that would make the old Box Site 50 yards directly along the line-of-sight of this view --



Street view URL:  http://maps.google.com/maps?q=woolwich+&hl=en&ll=51.493836,0.063289&spn=0.00169,0.007499&sll=51.49413,0.061272&sspn=0.004803,0.009903&hnear=Woolwich,+Greater+London,+United+Kingdom&t=m&layer=c&cbll=51.493837,0.063294&panoid=wevu8HtBt1jGXgWkfeZq8w&cbp=11,334.41,,0,6.94&z=17

[hb88banzai]

In looking at the photos again, I see a revision to the Site street view info is in order.

Though the northbound lane towards the ferry docks was indeed opposite Hare Street, the southbound lane was offset to the east. Further, though the Met List says the Box was 50 yards north of Woolwich High Street, all the photos we have (1930s to 1959) show it as being significantly closer - more like 25 yards.

So, all this taken into account, the Box would have been more along this line of sight --



As Woolwich High Street has been widened almost entirely on the Thames side of the street (the old sidewalk starting about where the center divider is now), the Box Site would be about 12 yards or so beyond the current building's wall.

Revised Box Site Street View URL:  http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hare+Street,+Woolwich,+United+Kingdom&hl=en&ll=51.493897,0.063573&spn=0.003761,0.008465&sll=51.493715,0.063335&sspn=0.000473,0.001058&oq=Hare+Street,+woolwich&t=h&hnear=Hare+St&layer=c&cbll=51.493897,0.063573&panoid=lJo9vrDvzaUR49L8P2gQGw&cbp=12,338.36,,0,3.07&z=17

Note that the round building housing the entrances to the Woolwich Foot Tunnel under the Thames that is so prominent in the above photos is still there --



Though regrettably a recent attempt to renovate it remains incomplete --

[hb88banzai]

A much better screen capture from "The Giant Behemouth" (1959), courtesy of Domvar --

[petewilson]

Looking at this thread...It looks like this (and any other?) Box was given the darker Blue/White Windows design sometime between 1956-1959
I put my money on 1956/7 

[hb88banzai]

A new photo of this Box, this time from 1957 (courtesy of petewilson) --



A blowup --

[hb88banzai]

A 1957 photo of the Approach from a reverse angle found by petewilson --



Not a lot to see of the Box here, but a great view of Woolwich to see things in better context. The Box is barely visible behind the sign on the left, just past the third Telephone Kiosk about midway up the Approach Road.

[Dalekoracle]

Some great photos there. Its a shame Woolwich doesn't look like that now. Its quite sole-less. All modern 60's and 70's and whats not been redeveloped is rather run down.
I've said before in another thread, I'd personally have preferred it back then. Not that not fun now of course, but it was simpler, cleaner, more wholesome a life. Loving all these od photos. If anything, the boxes in these photos are just a bonus now!

Mark

[Dalekoracle]

Heres a different view of the Woolwich Ferry box...

http://www.chrismansfieldphotos.com/RECORDS-of-WOOLWICH/Hare-street-/i-BJHcHfM/X2

Enjoy!

Mark

[tony farrell]

Here's the photo rather than a link:

[Dalekoracle]

Thanks Tony, Much appreciated.
Mark

[petewilson]

Here's a colour but slightly blurred shot from 1965.......

[Volpone]

If I could like that 4x, it wouldn't be enough.  Kudos to people who love the MkV's,but they don't do it for me.  So seeing a "classic" Met box in color is always great. 

[petewilson]

If I could like that 4x, it wouldn't be enough.  Kudos to people who love the MkV's,but they don't do it for me.  So seeing a "classic" Met box in color is always great.

I totally agree with you Volpone..
The Mark V's just don't look right as nor do the other City Police Boxes (except for Glasgow and the Town's that had a small stock of Met Boxes)
Maybe if that clever fellow hadn't come up with the idea of disguising a time/space machine as a Met Box I would feel different...But WHO Knows!