Kenwood: and its "environs", 2010.

Mr Brilig, an occasional leaver of amusing comments round these parts, recently found himself on business in the environs of St George's Hill, and couldn't resist a quick visit to the threshold of the titular pile (well, who can, whenever the opportunity arises?). He also couldn't resist firing up the auld "video" recorder, and... well, recording his progress through the lanes around Kenwood:



This may be of little consequence to anyone, but it's worth bearing in mind that these roads have changed little in the intervening period since John lived there (unlike the house itself); Mr Lennon would sometimes use them to go for a stroll after being up all night smoking "reefer" and playing "the bongos" (or whatever people did back then for amusement). In the context of all this, I find the Brilig film to be interesting: it's another little layer of insight in the.. errr.. gateaux that is... errrr...
Brilig has also begun a Beatle related blog, which can be found HERE. Thanks to him for letting me use the film.

St George's Hill: summer, 1968.

This little snapshot, again taken by Cathy Kelleher Sarver in the summer of 1968, answers a question that occasionally pops up on these pages: namely, how did Ver Yoof/Kidz get to Kenwood, when St George's Hill is gated and inaccessible to those without mountains of cash (or their employees/friends)?
The answer, as the above shows, is that the Hill may be inaccessible now, but it wasn't back then. As Cathy writes, this pic shows the "entrance into the St. George's Hill Estate. If memory serves you would take the road to the right to get to John & Ringo's homes." Thus, the curious could stroll into the grounds, and, if armed with the right kind of knowledge, up to Kenwood, through (or over) the gate, and so on and so forth.
I'm not sure when the gates and security at the Estate entrances were installed. Seems a bit off, however. Nor am I sure which entrance this is, as there are a few ways in. But it may well be the one off Brooklands Road (below as seen last year).


Many thanks again to Cathy and Lizzie.

St George's Hill: part 1 - Cavendish Road entrance.

Several people have written to ask if it is possible to get into the estate where Kenwood is situated. Unless armed with an invitation, or on business of some kind, then the answer is almost certainly not!
This is the entrance nearest to the house. If you are a resident, or member of the local golf or tennis fraternities, then you have a pass which gets you straight through the security gates. Anyone else has to speak to the guard - and, whilst friendly, they don't tend to look favourably on ambulatory requests, Beatles-related or otherwise...


...which is all plus ca change; St George's Hill's earliest claim to fame rests on the fact that proto-hippies and free the land types the Diggers attempted to establish a commune here in 1649, only to be seen off after a few months of legal to-ing and fro-ing by local landowners. In recent times, there have been concerted efforts to open the Hill up to public access, thus far unsuccessful.
In the 1960s, however, security was more lax; there were no gates at the entrances, and, whilst you might be challenged by local residents, it was quite possible to walk onto the estate - hence the various fan photos of the house.