South Oxfordshire District Council has given the green light for conditions at the country estate belonging to Beatles icon George Harrison.
Last August, the Grammy-winning musician Dhani Harrison—George’s son—submitted an application to modify previously approved plans at Friar Park in Henley.
The legendary Beatle’s former residence is believed to have inspired his first solo album following the band’s dissolution, titled All Things Must Pass.
The estate’s lawn appeared on the album cover, featuring the guitarist surrounded by four garden gnomes—widely interpreted as representing each member of the quartet.
Multiple planning applications have received approval at the property, including permission granted five years ago to George’s widow, Olivia Harrison, to construct a dwelling on an abandoned tennis court.
It emerged last year that Dhani had assumed control of projects at the location after receiving planning consent to modify those earlier plans, which encompassed adding a plant room and making changes to windows and openings.
Two new applications were put forward to either discharge or amend conditions attached to earlier approvals.
One proposal concerned a detached single-storey maintenance structure and the removal of nine prefabricated buildings and containers from the grounds.
The Victorian estate was reportedly mere weeks from demolition when George acquired it in 1970 at age 27.
George and Olivia restored the gardens to their former splendor, creating what are now considered among Britain’s most impressive.
Friar Park has served as the Harrison family home for numerous years, and it was also where George survived a stabbing attack by Michael Abram, who suffered from schizophrenia, in 1999. The assailant received a life sentence in a secure psychiatric facility.
Olivia received planning permission four years ago to erect a new two-bedroom oak-framed residence on the site of the disused tennis court.
The property comprised a kitchen diner, living room, utility space and music room on the ground floor, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and two additional rooms upstairs.
Some of the recently approved modifications involved installing three dragon finials, demolishing a clock tower, converting square windows to round ones and fitting French doors.
George Harrison utilized a recording studio at Friar Park for his solo albums.
The studio also served work on Traveling Wilburys releases—the supergroup featuring the former Beatle alongside Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne.
Recording and filming for The Beatles’ 1995 Anthology project likewise occurred at the mansion’s studio.
George Harrison passed away from cancer at age 58 in 2001.
