The Wycliffe Companion:

Book by book Backstory - Personal, Work, Places

DEATH IN STANLEY ST  (1975)

Personal:

W. is like a lean and kindly monk. Has been in the city one month. David and Ruth: the twins.

The Watch House: substantial, granite built, overlooking the estuary, in half an acre. White five-barred gate. Trees and shrubs planted by Helen. 2 bathrooms (one downstairs). Red velvet curtains. Clock across the river can be heard striking and, faintly, the bell-buoy in the estuary.

Work:

Office:   first floor in a wing of the new Area HQ. Real wood panelling; sectional bookcases;  great  square desk;  ornamental grill   'spewing out tepid, deoxygenated air’;  double glazing;  carpet. Overlooking grass, geometrical beds and unlikely rockeries - not  a tree!  Beyond,   the main highway runs north out of the city.

Hugh Annesley Bellings:   slim,   elegant. Now half way down the corridor in the new HQ.

Gill:  Tall,   thin,   stoops a little. 6' 4"

Insp. Webb:   In charge of Drugs Squad.

Sgt. Bourne:   26. Graduate. Up and coming.  Thick dark moustache. Collation. Down corridor at back of building.

Sgt. Smith

DC Shaw:   25.

DC Dixon:  Curly,  blond hair. On trial from local force. Went to school in Exeter. One year in Sixth.

DC Fowler:   45.  Consistently failed examinations for sergeant.   'Good jack’ of the old breed.  Slow and dogged.

WPC Saxton:  Wycliffe's secretary. Blonde,  aristocratic features.   'Band box.’

Dr Franks:   'All talcum and after-shave.’   Office - all white.

Pathology Labs. Two communicating huts in the grounds of the city's general hospital (a great white wedding-cake of a building) with hundreds of square windows.

The City:         (Taunton is 80 miles away (p 161)

Stanley Street: (p 1 ) full description. Cul de sac. 22 houses on one side only. "The Joiners" pub.

Middle Street: Narrow and poorly lit. Few shop lights. Fish & Chip shop.

have retained their back gardens.

Royal Clarence: Probably oldest and most discreet hotel in city (p 64).

Schools: 7 comp.(4 were previously grammar). 2 direct grant with sixth forms.

School of Art & Architecture: Victorian building, stucco front, pillared entrance.

Opp. City Polytechnic: mushroom growth of glass & concrete approaching skyscraper proportions. The Principal; Mr Slater, regulation haircut, sideburns, clean shaven, corduroy jacket.

Bear Street; Description p 176/7 and p 55 - Old Custom House; great barn of  a place. Attics. Square outside used for parking. Houses 19th century town

cottages - a few converted into shops.

Teague's Eating House; Between a supermarket and a bank. Small frontage, 50’ or more deep. 2 lines of booths, matted walk between. White damask table-cloths.