"The Longshoot"

[Mike of CAS]

The last shot with Meg is probs the best you get of the building.

I had a thought on *that* footage however. It may, because I'm sure later in the episode the "Motel Restaurant" is actually the inside of part of the Chateu Impney (very posh looking) that that 'back' of the motel might be too. But it seems to be a 60s building and the Impney only had a modern 'entrance' added, I think the rest of it is still in its original state.

We don't know how long it was used. We have for the sixties and 70s two names. The Cherrytrees Motel was a name someone posted on an old forum once saying it was used for a while, she knew this as her parents owned it and got sick of Crossroads in the end and said it couldn't be used anymore.

But no dates. The sign was delivered to ATV (The red one) in October 1964, so the outside photos used in the show came quite early on. However because no footage/photos seem to survive from the sixties we don't know if the shots that do survive are that original motel shoot or later. Obviously the fact Noele and Roger did a publicity shoot outside what appears to be the same motel in 1971 suggests it was used for quite a while. That or the photos we have in colour are from the same shoot and it was the motel used from 1971 and another was used prior.

Alan Coleman sent over a photo of him recording at the back of the motel in 1966, and when I asked if it was CherryTrees he said no, its the LongShoot in Oxford'.

To add to confusion, the one in Nuneaton was apparently called 'Crossroads' but I don't know if that was ever true or if the fact its been the location has blurred history. BTW, there is an active Crossroads Motel in the midlands currently and a fairlawns!

[Mike of CAS]

Where I've put the 'O' on the Cherrytrees is where I thought the motel sign would 'fit' with the colour photo we have. In respect to the car park thus being in the right place - to the right of the sign, down the 'driveway'. Obviously I can't remember what the old buildings layout was, I believe the chalets were at the back, furthest away from the road so might be way off, but that roadway, and curv seemed to 'fit'.

[DJB]

Thanks,Mike.Seems like this one needs a lot of detective work.I guess the fact that it was used so infrequently means that even those who worked on the programme may not remember. 

[Heathbury The First]

The "colour sign" image could well also be different to the black and white 1500 image: -

like you said - in the black and white there appear to be wooden horizontal boards at the bottom of the windows whereas in the colour the windows go down to the floor.

above the widows are pairs of slatted widows on the colour image, but single panes of glass on the black and white.

Finally - to the right of the image of Nolly and Roger - there is a large brick wall section that doesn't correspond to the colour image - the brick sections are much slimmer..

[Mike of CAS]

Well 'a' motel got a key role in 1980 when Benny is run over right outside the motel. Hopefully that survives. I think it blinds him for a bit that incident. But at least we should get a good view of a motel.

The photo with Roger and Noele is definately not taken from the same bit of the building, however it does have the same cobbled curb (seen behind Roger's arm)

So its either the 'other side' or further down towards the carpark. I can't remember now how I know there is a carpark to the right of the motel sign. I've seen it somewhere...

[Mike of CAS]

Maybe James Feltham can find that photo Carlton released in 2001 of Nolly and an unidentified leaning over the sign with a script. I think that might be where i've seen cars behind them.

But the image was tiny.

[Maria No. 1.]

I remember Benny being run over outside, yes, he is blinded for a while.  Meg goes to visit him in hospital and his vision returns.

[Mike of CAS]

I've just been looking at http://web.archive.org/web/20010825233318/www.unmissabletv.com/tx/data/features/crossroads/006.htm

Some lovely photos there not seen 'before' well not in books. A nice one of Ronnie. I thought that site had one of the motel outside, but it has a lovely colour photo of the motel noticeboard, so a colour photo of the 'famous' reception survives somewhere in the archive.

[DJB]

I remember Benny being run over outside, yes, he is blinded for a while.  Meg goes to visit him in hospital and his vision returns.

Think that was 1981-I thought those hospital scenes were recorded when Dorothy Hobson was there writing her book.Will have to double check that.

[Mike of CAS]

Yes it was that photo, you can see a car in the background (just) to the right of the photo. Dunno who the bloke is.

[Maria No. 1.]

I remember Benny being run over outside, yes, he is blinded for a while.  Meg goes to visit him in hospital and his vision returns.

Think that was 1981-I thought those hospital scenes were recorded when Dorothy Hobson was there writing her book.Will have to double check that.

I think you are right DJB.  I know it isn't that long before Noele leaves.

[Heathbury The First]

Okay the top half is definitely Cherrytrees stuff. The large white building is obviously the central hub and the brown ones are the chalets. Clearly they have pitched roofs as well.


If you look at the colour photo then it is almost impossible to place the location on the map or aerial photo - I looked at the roofs to decide that.

I'm not sure a motel would necessarily need a chimney that size - looks more like a school or hospital really.

Anyway the litle "unmissable tv" shot has the red sign in a different place to the 1500 ep photo and meg wears a differnt coat - so I am assuming that this actually comes from the colour photo era.

In the bottom half of the picture you can see what I mean about that large section of flat wall.

I did think that maybe the colour photo was taken from the bottom left of the alcester site, but the map indicates that it was grassed and not a car park space.

At the end of the day we will not know unless someone who knows reveals all.

Anyway, I only came on to post about the the Longshoot. If any footage of that exists i would be keen to see it.

[Mike of CAS]

I know ITV said if ever we needed any photos... does someone want to ask James...

We haven't asked for anything yet, so maybe its time motel stuff was dug up.

[Mike of CAS]

The 1500 episode is the same motel as the colour one - as I say from the cobbles being the same - but it looks more like its done in front of the lavs - nice (high widows long wall) and an office - there is two women in the window. So somewhere else in the same location. That's all I can add really.

[Mike of CAS]

The big pitched roof section, appears to have a canopy running alongside it, so possibly a function room. It does appear to be more like a school than a motel.


...Ian's good at chatting up people, Ian... ITV Archive sweetest!