The Beatles' Time in Kent

Hey there! Today, we've got something super cool cooked up from the folks over at Chatting Tracks. Robbie's taking us on an extraordinary journey with the Beatles superfan and historian Ian Hooper. What makes this trek extra special? Well, we're diving into some rare Beatles history straight from the stunning Sevenoaks in Knole Park.

So what’s the big deal about this park, you ask? Back in the swinging sixties, January and February 1967 to be exact, the Beatles filmed parts of their iconic Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields promotional videos right here. Ian takes us to see what remains of these historical spots, like the infamous tree stump—which, believe it or not, is all that's left of where they shot most of the Strawberry Fields video. Despite nature having its way over the years, Ian's done some top detective work with his buddy Andrew to prove it is indeed the tree. Mother Nature and the infamous storm of '87 took their toll, but this piece of Beatles history stands, sorta, proud.

Narrative and scenery collide back at the park's charming birdhouse, too, featured in the Penny Lane promo film, where the Fab Four prance on white horses. Straying a bit from the park, the tale continues to places like the high street, where John Lennon bought a circus poster that inspired lyrics for one of their tracks.

Ian even throws in some interesting trivia about the Beatles and their connections to Sevenoaks, like Stu Sutcliffe's mom living nearby and showing off his art in exhibitions. It's a whole web of history and music.

As we roll through fun Beatles stories, you can almost hear the echoes of their iconic music. Ian's planning a bash in 2027 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of these legendary excursions into Knole Park. If you want to dig deeper into where you can walk in the Beatles' footsteps, Ian's got the scoop on his Beatles in Kent website.

It was an unforgettable jaunt through time, filled with all the little tidbits that make Beatles lore endlessly fascinating. Until next time, keep those tunes spinning!

https://beatlesinkent.com/