Kew Railway Bridge

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Kew Railway Bridge, also known as Kew Rail Bridge or simply Kew Bridge, was a filming location for the Doctor Who season 2 story The Dalek Invasion of Earth [+]Loading...["The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)"].

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

Location filming at Kew Rail Bridge for the first episode "World's End"[1][2] occurred on the third day of filming for the serial on 27 August 1964.[1][3][4] Taking part in the day's filming were all four members of the regular cast, Kenton Moore, Martyn Huntley and Peter Badger playing Robomen, Dalek operator Robert Jewell and stunt double Peter Diamond.[1] Kew Bridge served as a replacement for Hammersmith Bridge which was originally planned to be the site of all of the riverside location filming. However, designer Spencer Chapman suggested that their location be changed to Kew Rail Bridge[2] as it was easier to replicate in the studio.[2][4] Sources disagree on precisely how much of the riverside sequences were filmed at each location but it is undisputed that at least one scene was still shot at Hammersmith.[nb 1]

One scene which most sources agree was shot at Kew Rail Bridge, specifically on the South Bank, was the opening shot of the serial which depicted a Roboman walking into the River Thames.[2] Kenton Moore played the suicidal Roboman,[1] with fight arranger for the story Peter Diamond doubling for him as he fell into the river.[1][2][3] Aside from the Kew and Hammersmith Bridges, other locations at which material was shot on 27 August included Butler's Wharf and Irongate Wharf. Location filming for the serial then concluded the following day at John's Hole Quarry.[1][4]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. Doctor Who On Location does not mention Kew Bridge at all, instead distinguishing between scenes shot on Hammersmith Bridge's North and South Bank. DWM 280 suggests all but the scene of the Roboman walking into the River Thames was at Hammersmith which is agreed upon by The Doctor Who Production Diary: The Hartnell Years which only that "a Roboman throwing himself into the water" was shot at Kew while the "riverside sequences" were shot at Hammersmith. Meanwhile, DWMSE 7 states Kew Rail Bridge was used for "most of the other riverside location scenes" save for the cliffhanger to the first episode.

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]