34 Montagu Square

Ringo Starr leased Flat 1 in 1965, shortly before his marriage to Maureen Cox. The Swiss Embassy was, and is, located at the back of the house at 16-18 Montagu Place, but in August 1965, an embassy spokesperson complained that Beatles' fans were defacing their back wall (in Bryanston Mews), with messages meant for Starr: 'Our back wall is now very unsightly and we shall have to redecorate. Our chauffeur, who is French and took part in the first World War, says the language some of these young people use is worse than anything he ever heard in the trenches'. Paul McCartney rented the flat from Starr in 1965 and asked Sommerville to install recording equipment (including two Revox reel-to-reel tape machines); planning to use it as a demo studio. He recorded here a demo version of 'I'm Looking Through You' in late March 1965, and worked on the composition of 'Eleanor Rigby' for the 1966 'Revolver'. McCartney later gave up the flat, and it remained empty until Starr sub-let it to Jimi Hendrix with Kathy Etchingham, and Chas Chandler with Lotta Null, in December 1966. Unfortunately, when Hendrix was under the effects of LSD, he threw whitewash over the walls, forcing Starr to evict him. Starr also lent the flat to other pop stars and friends over the next few years, when they needed a place to stay in London. When Lennon started a relationship with Yoko Ono in 1968, his wife and son moved into the flat on 21 June 1968, living there for three months, before returning to Kenwood, as Lennon and Ono preferred to live at 34 Montagu Square. They lived in the flat for several months, as the 'White Album' was being recorded. Visitors remembered that the flat was in a state of squalor, with dirty plates, cups, clothes, newspapers and magazines littering the floor, with the couple living on 'a diet of champagne, caviar, and heroin'. Lennon and Ono's experimental 'Two Virgins' album had been recorded at Kenwood, but its notorious nude cover photos were taken at 34 Montagu Square. On 18 October 1968, the flat was raided by Scotland Yard's Drugs Squad. Both were arrested, with Lennon pleading guilty to hashish possession and he was fined £150. After the raid, the landlord sought an injunction against Starr on 19 February 1969, forbidding anyone but Starr or his family to live there, and allowing no music or instruments to be played. Starr appealed, and a compromise was offered; only Starr or a family member would live in the flat. To finally settle the case, Starr sold the lease on 28 February 1969.

Add to tour Add to favourites