Where are the Thirty Nine Steps?

Answer 1

They are situated at North Foreland, not far from Broadstairs on the Isle of Thanet, Kent, England. They are a set of tunnelled stairways leading down to the beach from a private estate.

The author was staying in the town recovering from illness in a villa, St Cuby, owned by a friend of the family, at the top of the stairs. At this time, 1914, he could have been inspired to write a spy story by the fact that a German spy had been captured on the clifftops nearby, signalling to an unknown vessel.

The finale of the story is set near a town called Bradgate, a derivation of Bradstow, an ancient name for Broadstairs. The story continues as the main character, Richard Hannay, persues a suspected spy from the villa, "...Franz sped on over the road towards the railed entrance to the beach stairs ... The gate of the stairs locked behind the fugative ..." then, "...I saw a cloud of dust pouring out of the stairway ...". This is an exact description of the stairs, and the route from St Cuby, as they are now.

The stairs actually consist of two shafts and three tunnelled sections down to beach level, completely surrounded by bushes which, as in the novel, obscure the passages from view from the road. Although there are now 108 steps, at the time of John Buchan's visit there were 78 oak steps which was reduced to 39 as a more suitable title. They were replaced by concrete in the 1940's, book-ends being made of some of the wood and presented to the owner of St Cuby, the author's family and Alfred Hitchcock, who produced a film on the book.

Nearby there also exists two other tunnelled staircases, but these have unfortunately been totally sealed up. Although on a private estate, the 39 steps are still accessible from the road which runs along the cliff tops.

Answer 2

The film that several people have mentioned in responses to this question are based on a book called "The Thirty Nine Steps" by John Buchan. So to find your answer read the book!

Answer 3

In the book it was Wembley Stadium where thirty nine steps needed to be climbed to reach the Royal box

Answer 4

In chapters 2 to 4 of the Alcoholics Anonymous Blue Book.

Answer 5

Kilroymaster is the King. Alfred Hitchcock, R.I.P., used to be the king. He made a movie titled the "39 Steps." And it is so old that even I can't remember where the 39 steps were located. Needless to say, they must have been important cuz he named one of his pieces of scarey cinematic art after those steps.

Answer 6

3 times 12 steps in Alcoholic Anonymous and 3 steps to see promising land but never enter there, for life is about to be over.

Answer 7

In the Kenneth More film of the same name some steps that run down to the river Thames.

Answer 8

John Buchan

Answer 9

its next door to the 12 step building
only they hav so many more steps to recovery
by the time u get to step 39 ur so old
u cant remember what ur problem was

Answer 10

I have 39 steps for my stair case in my home