Sunny Heights
Encyclopedia
Sunny Heights, in St George's Hill estate in Weybridge, Surrey, England, was the mid-1960s home of Ringo Starr
, drummer of The Beatles
.
Starr purchased his home on 24 July 1965 after bandmates John Lennon
and George Harrison
had bought houses. Sunny Heights, along with its large house and grounds, boasted its own bar, The Flying Cow, where Starr played host. The previous owner was Mr. H. E. Pope, who changed the name of the house from Haleakala
to Sunny Heights II when he bought it in 1948; the name came from the house in Amberley that the Pope family had been evacuated to during the Second World War.
Manager Brian Epstein
had hoped each Beatle would buy adjacent properties, with a central one for himself. While Starr and Lennon (who purchased Kenwood
, a mock Tudor house nearby) did buy places close to each other on the same estate, and it comforted each to know the other could be found close by, Harrison broke herd by getting a house (Kinfauns) on a nearby estate in Esher
, while Paul McCartney
bided his time, and bought a house on Cavendish Avenue in St. John's Wood, a short walk from EMI
's Abbey Road
recording studios.
Maureen Cox married Starr in 1965, joining him at Sunny Heights and giving birth to their three children (Zak
, Jason and Lee Starkey). While this was their primary residence, Starr also kept a London apartment at 34 Montagu Square, Marylebone
, which was often lent out to guests.
As the Beatles began to break up, Lennon sold Kenwood, purchasing Tittenhurst Park
in 1969, while Harrison bought Friar Park
early in 1970. Ringo in 1968 purchased Brookfield, in Elstead, from actor Peter Sellers. When Lennon (with second wife Yoko Ono
) moved to New York City in 1971, Starr bought Tittenhurst Park, moving in with his family, who lived there until 1988.
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, drummer of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
.
Starr purchased his home on 24 July 1965 after bandmates John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
had bought houses. Sunny Heights, along with its large house and grounds, boasted its own bar, The Flying Cow, where Starr played host. The previous owner was Mr. H. E. Pope, who changed the name of the house from Haleakala
Haleakala
Haleakalā , or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by the West Maui Mountains.- History :...
to Sunny Heights II when he bought it in 1948; the name came from the house in Amberley that the Pope family had been evacuated to during the Second World War.
Manager Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
had hoped each Beatle would buy adjacent properties, with a central one for himself. While Starr and Lennon (who purchased Kenwood
Kenwood, St. George's Hill
Kenwood is a house on the St. George's Hill estate, Weybridge, Surrey, England. Originally called the Brown House, it was designed by architect T.A. Allen, and built in 1913 by local builders, Love & Sons. The estate was constructed around the Weybridge Golf Club, which was designed in 1912 by...
, a mock Tudor house nearby) did buy places close to each other on the same estate, and it comforted each to know the other could be found close by, Harrison broke herd by getting a house (Kinfauns) on a nearby estate in Esher
Esher
Esher is a town in the Surrey borough of Elmbridge in South East England near the River Mole. It is a very prosperous part of the Greater London Urban Area, largely suburban in character, and is situated 14.1 miles south west of Charing Cross....
, while Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
bided his time, and bought a house on Cavendish Avenue in St. John's Wood, a short walk from EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
's Abbey Road
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
recording studios.
Maureen Cox married Starr in 1965, joining him at Sunny Heights and giving birth to their three children (Zak
Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey is an English rock drummer. He is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Starr's first wife Maureen Starkey Tigrett. He is also well known for his unofficial membership in the English rock band The Who, with whom he has performed and recorded since 1996. He is also the third...
, Jason and Lee Starkey). While this was their primary residence, Starr also kept a London apartment at 34 Montagu Square, Marylebone
34 Montagu Square, Marylebone
34 Montagu Square is the address of a London ground floor and basement flat once leased by Ringo Starr during the mid-1960s. Its location is 1.3 miles from the Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles recorded...
, which was often lent out to guests.
As the Beatles began to break up, Lennon sold Kenwood, purchasing Tittenhurst Park
Tittenhurst Park
Tittenhurst Park was the home of John Lennon and Yoko Ono from the late summer of 1969 until August 1971, and then the home of Ringo Starr and family until the late-1980s. It is located on a 72-acre estate in London Road, Sunningdale, near Ascot, Berkshire SL5 0PN, England, close to the Surrey...
in 1969, while Harrison bought Friar Park
Friar Park
Friar Park is the 120-room Victorian neo-Gothic mansion previously owned by the eccentric Sir Frank Crisp in Henley-on-Thames and bought by the musician George Harrison in 1970, as he left his former home Kinfauns, in Esher.-History:...
early in 1970. Ringo in 1968 purchased Brookfield, in Elstead, from actor Peter Sellers. When Lennon (with second wife Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
) moved to New York City in 1971, Starr bought Tittenhurst Park, moving in with his family, who lived there until 1988.