where are the 39 steps - the ones that John Buchan mentions?

Question

Been set a homework challenge to find out where the 39 steps are - HELP!

Answer 1

They are situated at North Foreland, not far from Broadstairs on the Isle of Thanet, 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 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.

Hope that helps you.

Answer 2

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RE:
where are the 39 steps - the ones that John Buchan mentions?
Been set a homework challenge to find out where the 39 steps are - HELP!

Answer 3

The 39 steps in John Buchan book refers to the 39 steps on the Kent coast,were the spies were going to escape in a boat across the english channel.
In Alfred Hitchcock film the 39 steps were a secret organisation of german spies.
Great film.

Answer 4

The 39 steps were at North Foreland near Broadstairs in Kent, from the beach up to the bungalows along the headland. Richard Hannay was able to identify where the 39 steps were located because Scudder's notebook also mentioned the time of high tide on a specific day. This was the only stretch of coast accessible to London, which both had steps down to the sea, where a yacht would require high tide to come close to the shore and where the high tide would be at that time. Only one bungalow had exactly 39 steps and so Hannay was able to reach the villains before they embarked and escaped.

Answer 5

Buchan wrote the book while he was recuperating from illness at a house called St Cuby, Cliff Promenade, Broadstairs. A set of stairs, tunnelled into the cliff, still runs from the garden to the beach.

Answer 6

The steps up to Big Ben were constructed in multiples of 13. The 39 ninth step was on the third floor. Which is where Hannay broke through the clock face to stop Big Ben reaching 11.45.

Answer 7

John Buchan wrote the book of that title. It was his hero, Richard Hannay who had to discover where they were. As far as I recall, they were located in Kent. Of course, you could always read the book!

Answer 8

I thought the 39 steps was a secret organisation that was about to be revealed by a guy who knew everything...but he got shot on stage during his act...thus not being able to tell anyone.

Answer 9

TV is produced to the lowest common denominator - i.e., the average IQ of everyone, whereas a e book is written to the best common denominator

Answer 10

I love watching television, I love the pet shows, the medical shows and the Judges and courtroom shows