The National Trust is considering launching a campaign to buy Abbey Road Studios, which EMI is reported to be planning to sell.
The charity, which also owns the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, is canvassing opinions via email, Facebook and Twitter as to whether the studios should be saved.
It’s not often that the public spontaneously suggests that we should acquire a famous building. However, Abbey Road recording studios appear to be very dear to the nation’s heart – to the extent that we will take soundings as to whether a campaign is desirable or even feasible.
As a conservation charity working to protect historic locations in Britain, any purchase by The National Trust would likely spell the end for Abbey Road Studios as a working recording studio. It would, however, mean the building is protected from property or commercial developers for generations to come, and would allow the interior to be viewed by members of the public.
EMI is reportedly selling 3 Abbey Road in an effort to raise more than £100 million to prevent it from breaching banking arrangements with US lenders Citigroup. The 18th century converted London townhouse is believed to be worth up to £30 million.
The National Trust was mentioned in The Beatles’ song ‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun’.