DiCamillo Companion
England

Tittenhurst Park

Sunninghill

Windsor & Maidenhead

England

Historic County: Berkshire

Circa Date: Early 18th century w/circa 1830 & late 20th century alterations and additions

Status: Fully Extant

House Open to Public: No

Country House: Yes

This house has been used for TV and Film

  • House & Family History: John and Yoko (née Ono) Lennon purchased the Georgian house and 72-acre Tittenhurst estate on May 4, 1969 for £145,000 (approximately £4 million in 2016 inflation-adjusted values using the labour value commodity index), and moved in on August 11 of the same year. On August 22, 1969 the House was the setting for The Beatles' final photo session – to promote their "Abbey Road" album. The "Imagine" video was filmed in the White Drawing Room (with John playing the piano), and photos from the House were used for the front and back covers of their 1970 "Hey, Jude" album and twin Plastic Ono Band albums. The Lennons left for the United States in September of 1971 and subsequently sold Tittenhurst to fellow Beatles band member Ringo Starr in September 1973 (John and Yoko were about to separate). The Ascot Sound Studios that John had installed in the Estate grounds were renamed Startling Studio and opened for hire. A promotional film was shot for the "Photograph" single, showing Starr walking around Tittenhurst. Ringo sold the 26-room mansion in February 1989 for £5 million to Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi and first president of the United Arab Emirates. In 1989-90 the House and grounds underwent extensive renovations (almost all of the Lennon/Starr fittings were removed) and a 10-foot-high security wall was erected around the entire Estate. Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan died in November 2004; his son, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, succeeded him as president of the United Arab Emirates and owner of Tittenhurst Park.

    Collections: Giovanni Bellini's 15th century masterpiece, "Saint Francis in the Desert" (aka "Saint Francis in Ecstasy"), was in the collection at Tittenhurst from 1852 until 1912. In 1915 Henry Clay Frick purchased the canvas (see "Images" section) and it has remained in The Frick Collection in New York City ever since.

  • Garden & Outbuildings: John and Yoko Lennon installed a man-made lake, which they could see from their bedroom window.

  • House Listed: Grade II

    Park Listed: Not Listed

  • "Imagine" (1972). "Gimme Some Truth: The Making of John Lennon's Imagine Album" (2000).

  • Current Seat / Home of: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; here since 2004.

    Past Seat / Home of: J. Dingwall, 19th century. Thomas Holloway, 19th century. John and Yoko (nee Ono) Lennon, 1969-73. Ringo Starr, 1973-89. Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, 1989-2004.

    Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

  • House Open to Public: No

    Historic Houses Member: No

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