Over the gate...

Designed in 1913 by Victorian/Edwardian/other architect Theophilus A Allen; John Lennon's house between 1964 and 1968; sunroom, attic and prisco stripe hibernice; Mellotron and caravan; Babidji and Mimi; mortar and pestle; Wubbleyoo Dubbleyoo; curios and curiosity; remnants and residue; testimonials and traces; (Cavendish Avenue, Sunny Heights and Kinfauns); Montagu Square; mock Tudor: Brown House: *KENWOOD*.

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Friday 31 August 2012

3 Savile Row: then & now, part 2.


As good an illustration as one might "hope" for of the manifold problems that "then unt now-ing" presents; one corner of what once was the ground floor office of John & Yoko, circa 1914 and 2006. Note how the room has been reduced in size, and the entrance has moved walls. The bottom of the grand staircase (itself subsequently replaced) is visible through the 1914 door.
Other aspects have survived, notably the fireplace:


Much of the detail of the room has gone, however. There seems a general tendency in renovation to favour the bland, possibly connected with prevailing notions vis-a-vis "property" that anything too individual or characterful will cause "potential next-buyer" problems. Whatever, they can't (or at least haven't) moved the windows. (Yet.):


Dragging "usselves" upstairs to the first floor, the long room overlooking Savile Row was the main board-room, ie the Beatles' collective office, not over-used by the four for reasons of business (and personal) dissonance. Co-incidentally, it is also probably the space to have been least abused. 1914 v. 1968:


1968 v. 2011. The fireplace is behind chipboard, and note how the spaces adjacent to the windows have been boxed in:


A close look reveals radiation:


The large wooden fireplace surround, an echo of grandeurs past, unmasked:


The other end of this room has seen some tinkering. Compare, again, if ye will, 1914 with 2011: the door is the same, but hidden behind the screen in 1914. Decoration still in-situ, though an arch has been inserted:


Thus, despite the odd cosmetic flim-flam, it's pretty much as was:


See here, again '68 versus '11:


Next up, upper floors (including what has become of the former press room), and the roof.

2 comments:

  1. Looking forward to getting out on that roof.

    Curious to know if Olivia has sold Friar yet? There was a rumor going around this side of the new world about 6 months ago.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Interesting to see that in the Lennon/McCartney meeting everyone is spaced out with lots of personal space but the Harrison/Starr meeting everyone is cosy and close and happy.

    ReplyDelete

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