V&A: Psychedelic Eye On Display.

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London has a major new exhibition in the works: "You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966-70" runs from 10 September-26 February 2017 and will, as one might expect, feature the Fabs; both John and George's Sgt Pepper outfits will be on display, amongst other things.

Now, excitingly for those with an interest in Kenwood, I have it on good authority that one of those other things will be John's Eye mosaic from the pool, which was recently rediscovered, returned to its rightful owners, and restored to former glory.

Apparently the thing measures about 5 feet by 15 feet, consists of around 14,000 tiles, and is quite impressive in the flesh. Lovely stuff, and more details to follow, apparently...

Thanks to Bernie Cochrane.

Kenwood: return of the Eye.

Ever wondered what became of the Eye? Last seen in Liverpool circa 1985, on display at the Festival Garden site, it subsequently seems to have been found face down in a field (or something), before disappearing altogether.
But now up it has popped, the original owners having tracked it down and regained legal possession; the good news is that the Eye is currently being restored to its former glory, and will then go on display. One of said owners, Bernie Cochrane, has very kindly been in touch with some fascinating photos, and here they are.
Back in 1985, the decision was taken to remove the Eye due to its rapidly deteriorating condition; apparently if they had left it in the pool, within 10 years the thing would have been wrecked beyond the point of redemption. So, out it came; the following pic shows it in the grounds at Kenwood, freshly removed:


Regular "readahs" will spot the blue attic window, also removed at this time, current whereabouts unknown:


Here, the moment when the Eye finally left Kenwood:


Being hoisted into place in Liverpool:


And in situ (Bernie on the left):


Lastly, here's Bernie reunited with it in a solicitor's office, recently:


Groovy. Bernie is currently trying to track down John's original sketch for the Eye, which apparently once resided in the collection of British DJ Mike Read, but is now also in the "Where Doth It Be?" file. Any readahs with information, please do get in touch.
More Eye to follow, at some point.
Thanks Bernie.

Kenwood: then & thens.

Some new perspectives on '80s-model Kenwood. (Plus, with stultifying predictability, some "thens" from 1967.)
The above shows the view down to the pool, from the steps beside the sunroom, just before the Eye was removed in the mid-1980s. At that point, Kenwood (and this view in particular) was still remarkably similar to you know when (with the exception of a bit more "bush").
Below, a bit closer. Note both that the pool has been emptied to allow the removal of the Eye, and the difference that viewing it through water makes (as in the '67 shot).
Very clever, that. (Possibly.)


Next up, John's fabled "perch", where he spent much of 1967, staring into space. Sitting in an English garden, waiting for blah blah etc etc. By the mid-'80s, this view had hardly changed at all:


Finally, the garage "end" - John built this (not literally), and it is all gone now. But back then, the only real difference was the sunroom. It's a moot point whether that is a completely new structure, or simply John's one modified. I reckon the latter, for what it's worth:


The more or less eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted that the '80s pics aren't photographs at all, but screencaps, taken from video footage.
Watch this space.
(Or not.)

Kenwood: summer, 1968 - part 7.

Cathy then walked up the north perimeter steps, which took her out at the side of the garage, overlooking the swimming pool. She got the above shot through a gap in the woodwork. As she says:"The two little heads that can just be seen through the fence are Julian and a "little girl from down the hill". The photo was taken from the car port."
I would never have spotted the "two little heads", but there they are. You can also just make out part of the "Psychedelic Eye" on the wall of the swimming pool itself.
I'd never noticed before, but some of the plans on these pages show an area of concrete to the side of the garage. Cars were one of John's big extravagances during the '60s, so this area was likely used to park any that wouldn't fit in the main garage.
You can just see the spot, from where the above photo was taken, to the left of the garage in the black and white pic below:


Once again, many thanks go to Cathy and Lizzie. Next up, the front gate, drive and some more views of the house.