Kenwood: more drive, 1967.

More "fannage", in the drive at Kenwood, summer, 1967. "Fannage", I tell you. "Fannage".

Kenwood: summer, 1968 - part 8.

The front gate at Kenwood, summer, 1968. You'd think the gate would be as "iconic" (for want of a much better word) as the sunroom or the attic studio. After all, this is where the Yoof would congregate, and there must have been days when the heavy sliding gate was shut and stayed shut. Under such circumstances, what would there have been to do, other than a) get to work defacing as much of it with knife and ink as possible, and/or b) take a few snaps, as a memento of your day, standing in what was very likely drizzle, and occasionally being told to "fuck off" by Julian from the other side. (See some prior post or other for that particular tale).
But where are these snaps? It's odd that there has, to date, only been one photograph to surface of the gate (the one of Paul arriving), and that didn't show much. So, this one is most welcome; the first decent (not to mention colour) photo of the Lennon-era gate to appear.
Again, questions answered; that does indeed look like the sign later sold at auction by the gardener at Tittenhurst (apparently John took it with him when he finally sold up, and then passed it on):


...and a quick comparison with the same spot from a couple of years back. Note there isn't much left of the roof:


Happily, Cathy wasn't left outside, but found the gate wide open, as it often was at that time. Making her way up the curving road towards the house, she took a few photos as she went. First, this odd, raised bit of bricked up foliage, a "feature" or some such similarly despicable word:


And the same "feature", this time in relation to the house. The windows visible in this pic let light in on the Lennons none-more-60s "his and hers" (his 'n' hers, if ye must) basins on the first floor, and the attic studio on the second (UK speak):


The top of the drive, looking back down towards the gate:


..and the area around the front door, scene of many seen and so far unseen shots of a dishevelled, but seemingly almost always patient and amenable John, hanging out with those representatives of the Yoof who had the nerve to ring his doorbell:


To wit:


(To woo.) Plus, the same spot from a couple of years back. Note the hulking presence of the new garage to the right, and the completely re-built bit where the old garage was to the left:



Note too the rather forlorn sight of Cynthia's car, standing on its own.

Many thanks go again to Cathy Kelleher Sarver and Lizzie Bravo. (And another quick shout to Joe Baiardi for his contemporary pics.) The final batch of Cathy's photos coming soon.

Kenwood: upgrades.

Both of these have been on before in cropped/crappy form; here are uncropped/uncrappy upgrades. As regular "readers" will know, the black and white one dates June 29, 1967, and has John in the den, keeping an eye on Simone and Marijke painting his piano across the room. The orange cardied "vision" is from a bit later in the same year, on or about the driveway. There's another one here, and I daresay others as yet unseen elsewhere.
Thanks to Bruno Dupont for the better colour version.

Kenwood: December, 1968.

Another "new" photo, taken on the drive at Kenwood in early December, 1968.

Kenwood: south end & drive.

A large (click on it), new to this blog shot of the southern end of Kenwood. Dot (or someone) has opened the attic and master bedroom windows. (One can postulate why.) Enthralling stuff. This end of the house is unique, however, in that it hasn't been subject (or subjected) to any cosmetic tinkering/remodelling beyond the painting of the drainpipe. The colour 2008 Joe Baiardi shot also gives a good impression of the odd shape of Kenwood, curling away around the top of the hill. Also here, again lifted from Mr Baiardi's video, the view from that upstairs room to the left. Looking down on the drive, towards the approximate position shown in the upgraded fan photo, a curious sense of perspective is possible - mental ping pong across the decades. (I can keep this nonsense up more or less indefinitely, you realise.) The upgrade courtesy of, yet again, J. Baiardi, esq. Heaped gratitude piled upon him.

Kenwood: Drive, 1967.

I got this from Sara's great blog - further proof that there are more John at Kenwood pics out there. Sometime in 1967, obviously post-tache, he's wearing that pendant which he alternated with the talisman throughout the year, occasionally sporting both together. On AYNIL (an unfortunate acronym), of course, he's got the talisman on his head. I think the pendant is yet to turn up at auction, so maybe he didn't give it away. (Also here a re-post of another pic taken at the same time. These are obviously by fans...and maybe there are more).

Kenwood: drive, December 1968.

Another goodly December '68 shot. Following the traumatic events of the preceding couple of months, it's tempting to read a sense of relief into these, what with being back at Kenwood...utter pish in all probability.

Kenwood: driveway, June 1967.

Someone requested this odd photo of John playing road-kill beneath his Rolls Royce in the drive at Kenwood. So here it is, together with 3 more taken at the same time.

Kenwood: driveway, 1967.

Two of John posing in the drive at Kenwood circa mid-late '67, plus what appears to be Ringo admiring the newly psychedelicised Roller in the same location. It was the drummer who suggested that John get the distinctive paintwork applied to the car during a visit whilst John was filming How I Won The War in Almeria, Spain. The car had been painted black, but the Spanish terrain had not been kind to it. When John mentioned that he was going to have to get it redone back in Britain, Ringo suggested getting something distinctive, instead of a boring monotone. John, as was his wont, took the idea to extremes. The last pic is, inevitably (where would I be without it?), from Joe Baiardi's video - the drive in 2008.

Kenwood: October, 1967.

It is Kenwood, it seems. Thanks to Sara for this - and have a look at the excellent fan photos on her blog HERE.

Kenwood: October, 1967.

At least, I'm pretty sure this is John and Cyn leaving Kenwood in October '67. It's certainly the same car as in Lizzie Bravo's photo. Again, if anyone knows different, please comment away...