Thursday, February 5, 2009

Harrison's Friar Park

Among Beatles facts, the history of George Harrison's estate, Friar Park, is one of the most interesting. Friar Park is a 120-room Gothic mansion built by Sir Frank Crisp in 1875. Harrison purchased the property and its lavish, sculptured gardens from Catholic nuns in 1970. Tours were once available until John Lennon was shot in 1980, after which strong security measures were installed. Even these did not deter an intruder, who broke into the mansion and stabbed Harrison in the 1999.

Harrison installed a state-of-the-art recording studio at Friar Park, a 16-track facility that rivaled other studios, including Abbey Road. Many of Harrison's albums were recorded there.

"The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp" was inspired by the name of the estate's builder, and Harrison's song "Crackerbox Palace," is an allusion to the mansion.

The extensive gardens at Friar Park contain much topiary and many statues of gnomes, which can be seen on the box cover of All Things Must Pass. Harrison remarked in interviews that he found much peace at his estate, and felt that outside of its grounds was "madness."

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