Kenwood/Tittenhurst: the caravan also endures...more or less.

The caravan, or what's left of it, has resurfaced! Apparently, Ringo had it restored in the early 1980s (hence the different colours), and then took it with him when he moved, only to then leave it rotting in a garage.



Not a great deal remains of the woodwork.



The bits that are left have now been acquired by an Ascot charity, and are going to be sold to raise funds.



You can read the full story HERE, and see more photos HERE.
Thanks to Chris Sileo.

Kenwood: summer, 1967.

More Lizzie, and this time in colour. Most of these clearly taken in summer, and the gate remains open to all comers.
Two of the caravan, the left by Lizzie, the right from her collection, but snapper unknown (get in touch if it's you).
Quite splendid:



Two of the den end; circa, respectively, March and June 1967:



Kenwood, obscured by foliage:



Innareshtingly, most of the above may well date 26th June 1967, ie the day after Our World (and 3 days prior to the Leslie Bryce Kenwood session).
Fantastic "stuffs" - thanks Lizzie - further to follow.

Tittenhurst: more caravan.

Further evidence, not that any is needed, of the caravan in the grounds at Tittenhurst. Compare with the Kenwood fan pic below.
Of slightly more interest, the above is, as far as I can recall, the only pic to have surfaced thus far actually showing John (and Yoko) with the feckin' thing.


And Ringo, must I really ask ye again, whither the caravan?

Kenwood: more caravan.

And whither the caravan? Last seen rotting in the grounds of Tittenhurst, still no word on what ultimately became of it. But here it is, intact, in the summer of 1967 at Kennie.

Kenwood caravan: somewhere in Ireland.

A fascinating pair of photos, showing the Kenwood caravan in transit from Dorinish to Tittenhurst (probably)(see posts passim). One of John's haulage contractors, a Mrs Brunt, can be seen perched on the titular vehicle.
It's another bit of the jigsaw - but where is the final piece? Where is the bloody thing now? Eh, Ringo?
Many thanks to Dennis Toll.

Tittenhurst: relics o' Kenwood, 1977.

As Stuart Sutcliffe might have said: Can you tell what it is yet?
The last mention of the Kenwood caravan on these pages placed it at the bottom of the sea, having sunk on its way back from John's island, Dorinish.
So much for rumour.
In fact, the caravan arrived safely at Tittenhurst, and was left standing near what was then the main gate. Exposure to the elements has taken its toll; the paintwork wrecked, the Sgt Pepper motif long since washed away.
This photo, and others to follow, were taken by Thomas Rhyner in the summer of 1977. Chutzpah is all; having spotted the open gates, he walked through, camera in hand. Upon being challenged, Thomas asked if he could take some photos, and, amazingly enough, was told he could, provided he was gone in half an hour, because "Ringo is due back then, and if he sees you wandering about, he'll get medieval on yo' ass with peace and love." (Or words to that effect.)
Luckily, Thomas had a keen eye, and captured a number of interesting photos in his allotted survival time. He also happened to be standing in roughly the same spot as the photographer in this shot from the Beatles' final photo session:


The freshly painted caravan, for comparative purposes:


Wandering farther into the grounds, he noticed this:


...the distinctive round seat from the acorn installation at Coventry Cathedral in 1968, last seen at Kenwood outside the den window:


What has since become of these "items"? Ringo moved out of Tittenhurst in 1988, and it's quite possible they went with him; if so, the caravan and seat may be sitting still somewhere in the grounds of his Surrey pile.

I sort of hope so.

Many thanks to Thomas for sending these in; more to follow.

Kenwood: caravan, circa 1967/1968.

Another very evocative fan photo, showing the caravan perched near the bottom of the garden at Kenwood, sometime in 1967 or early '68. As we have just seen, it was still there during Richard Hall's visit, which took place in spring 1968 judging by John's appearance. The caravan was at Kenwood for roughly a year in total, before being moved out to Dorinish shortly after John took up with Yoko, and thence to the bottom of the Irish Sea, if infallible rumour be. Many thanks to Joe Baiardi for this one.

Kenwood & Greece: July, 1967.

Two front pages from towards the end of July, 1967. Click on them to read the stories. John was off in Greece buying an island, and so not present for the delivery of the psychedelic caravan to Kenwood - unlike Mrs Kathleen Bolton, apparently. (Is it just me, or does the whole story, amusing though it may be, smack a little too much of "Please-Sir-Can-We-Have-Our-Ball-Back-ism"? Though perish the thought that the tabloids might have invented a story.) She was, it seems, "jeered at" by waiting teenagers, which I'm afraid raised a titter or two round these parts. The other "story" from a couple of days later isn't really, though it does feature a splendid picture of John, refulgent in Jesus Saves t-shirt, stuffing his face.

Kenwood: caravan & Dorinish receipt.

Another shot of the caravan in the grounds, plus the receipt for John's island Dorinish, headed with the Kenwood address. I asked the question earlier in comments about what happened to the caravan, which was transported to Dorinish. I've since heard it now lies at the bottom of the Irish Sea. More information on related matters from this article HERE.

Kenwood: caravan.

Thanks to Lizzie Bravo for the link.

Kenwood: vehicles - Rolls Royce (exterior & interior), caravan.

Note highly shoddy picture/post management by blog "author".