West Malling: more then & then & now.

As many as one people have written to ask where exactly in Kings Hill the MMT hanger stood. This, o' course, was the scene of the climactic Yer Mama Should etc. sequence in the titular film, but despite the excellent illustrations in The Beatles' London, pinning down its former location proved tricky; virtually nothing now remains of West Malling airfield, and, as stated in the aforementioned 'bok':"...the new roads and buildings have obliterated any sense of MMT orientation".
Well almost...but not quite. There is one surviving landmark - the old control tower, and this, together with the above newly found pic, allows a more or less accurate placing of the 'anger (should anyone care.)
There were actually four hangers at West Malling. The pics above and below were taken with the MMT hanger behind the photographer, but crucially (and that really isn't the right word) the control tower can be seen above on the right. This one is to the immediate left of the above (clear as mud, but let's plough on):


An overview - the arrow marks the spot:


This 'then & then' again shows the location - the hanger in these pics isn't the MMT one:


Had the photographer turned around, however, they'd have got the following view - the "correct" hanger (and another 'then & then'):


The MMT hanger location can thus be ascertained. The car park on the right is (more or less) the spot where John and George's vehicles can be seen in the first two pics above, the arrows point to the control tower, the circled portion corresponds to the '67 fan photo, and scanning left shows what now squats where the very hanger once...errr...also squatted, namely Queen Street in Kings Hill:


There are a number of excellent on-line resources celebrating the history of West Malling airfield (and lamenting what has become of it), and lots of interesting pics. For example these, taken on the other side of the hanger seen in the first two pics above, with the one on the left circa WW2:


So now ye know.

Kinfauns: 1980s unt nau.

John Paul Zuni (winner of etc.) has very kindly sent in more images o' the Beatle Belt circa 1980s. And so, without further etc., to Kinfauns.
At that point, the (dare I say it) iconic porthole windows, of John's First Trip renown, remained intact, in common with much else. Rumour has it that they were one of the few bits to have survived the demolition, and this contemporary pic (plus inevitable "then") seems to confirm that:


Except...they look much further apart these days. So the round panes are the same (after all, why not save 'em if you are going to maintain the porthole theme?), but the wall is new, and I suspect this pic means that there really is nothing left beyond a bit of glass. (Even disregarding the considerable history, Kinfauns was quite an elegant bungalow, though arguably somewhat tainted by the addition of various bits and pieces over the years. The house which replaced it, however, seems to have been designed by someone dividing a page in four and then giving young children some crayons and a quarter each. I don't blame the owners, I blame the council for letting them do it. But anyway...)
Back to the halcyon 1980s (good God):


George's John mural long gone, as too was the "crossing":


Of course, it was Harri who designed the pool which was quite guitar-like in shape:


Another vaguely interesting point: note the multiple alterations for which George was responsible - and also the way that stylistic themes were kept intact, even if sections of the original structure (such as windows) weren't maintained:


Then compare that with the current portholes; the older I get, the more I think there is no such thing as coincidence.
Should you wish to see more photos of the contemporary house, and read the owner's reasons for destroying Kinfauns, then go HERE.
Many thanks once again to John Paul (winner of etc.).

3 Savile Row: basement.

Not that you'd know at first, second or third glance, but the above is a photo of the basement room at 3 Savile Row, circa 1915 and the very spot where the middle third of LIB was filmed. I recently found a fascinating antiquarian publication by the then owner of the house, Basil Dighton; said tome includes a history of number 3, plus 15 photos of the interior.
It's been surprisingly hard to match most of these to images of the Apple incarnation, but this one I've managed, mainly because a couple of obvious features survived further renovation, namely the fireplace:


...and the wooden roof beams:


The book is in a bit of a state, having nothing much left by way of a spine, and also being so dried out that the paper is beginning to crumble. Even scanning the above pic has led to considerable damage, but I will try and scan more as and when I can. And you try, as ever, to contain yourselves.

Kenwood: '80s exterior.

John Paul Zuni has sent another small piece of the puzzle (if puzzle it be). The sunroom circa late '80s. Clearly the same structure that John built, minus the awning, and with a bit of black paint:


I'd now say the early '90s one is also definitely John's original structure, but with a brick roof and proper fireplace added:


More (but other) late '80s awning "action":


Many thanks to John Paul (winner of Most Appropriate Contributor Name 2012.)(Unless John Paul George Ringo should submit some shizzle before the new year.)
And whither the latter internal pics which must exist, somewhere?

Kenwood: sunroom - December, 1968.

It's been a truly dreadful fortnight, but life, apparently, trundles on, and with it this nonsense, I suppose. Which is possibly the gloomiest sentence I've ever typed.
Anyway. A splendid December '68 sunroom shot, found by Lizzie, and forwarded here.
Not sure who the others are, but the beardie looks quite Lennon-ish himself.