Benifols [Archive]

DavidMn

01-17-2006, 07:19 PM

Of course we all know the band lived there for several years in hte early 70's. I have a 2 part question here. First, was Penguin or MTM the final album they recorded there. Second, where in England was it and does it still exist?

SteveMacD

01-17-2006, 07:26 PM

MTM. I think it's still there.

DavidMn

01-17-2006, 07:27 PM

MTM. I think it's still there.Ok I thought it was MTM. If I remember right, it was a quite large piece of property in the countyrside.

chiliD

01-17-2006, 08:07 PM

The info you're looking for David is probably in this old thread from this here Ledge:

Benifolds thread (http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/archive/index.php/t-11190.html)

DavidMn

01-17-2006, 08:09 PM

The info you're looking for David is probably in this old thread from this here Ledge:

Benifolds thread (http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/archive/index.php/t-11190.html)Thank you. A veritable fountain of information you are.!!:nod:

bretonbanquet

01-18-2006, 08:49 PM

I went to have a look at Benifold (as it's now called) last summer, and it's still in great shape. It's VERY big, with tennis courts etc, and a very large dog, which put me off taking a close look. I got to the top of the drive before I lost my nerve :o

The drive is very long and winding, and it's a very impressive house. Easily £1 million. The surrounding area is very quiet and wooded, with lots of little lanes and paths. A few minutes walk from the house I found The Crown pub, (from 'Down At The Crown') which was closed at the time, unfortunately - it doesn't open all day. It's a lovely area if any of you guys are ever in the south of England - go and have a look :)

wetcamelfood

01-18-2006, 09:46 PM

It's a lovely area if any of you guys are ever in the south of England - go and have a look :)

So, is it in Alton? I know John McVie said Kiln House was in Alton, Hampshire & that Benifold was in Hampshire county but don't know the specific town.

John

ThePenguin

01-18-2006, 10:02 PM

I went to have a look at Benifold (as it's now called) last summer, and it's still in great shape. It's VERY big, with tennis courts etc, and a very large dog, which put me off taking a close look. I got to the top of the drive before I lost my nerve :o

The drive is very long and winding, and it's a very impressive house. Easily £1 million. The surrounding area is very quiet and wooded, with lots of little lanes and paths. A few minutes walk from the house I found The Crown pub, (from 'Down At The Crown') which was closed at the time, unfortunately - it doesn't open all day. It's a lovely area if any of you guys are ever in the south of England - go and have a look :)

Oh I'm so jealous of you. That is so cool. One day my kids will be old enough to travel to the UK and indulge me as I wander about photographing FM landmarks. Or perhaps I should just go by myself or w/ Marty so i don't have to hear them complaining LOL.

-Lis

Gailh

01-19-2006, 01:39 PM

So, is it in Alton? I know John McVie said Kiln House was in Alton, Hampshire & that Benifold was in Hampshire county but don't know the specific town.

John

I think Benifold is in Hazlemere, Surrey which is the next county to Hampshire going north (sort of)

Gail

wetcamelfood

01-19-2006, 03:23 PM

I think Benifold is in Hazlemere, Surrey which is the next county to Hampshire going north (sort of)

Gail

Ah right, thanks Gail, geez, all these years all the FM books referring to it as being in Hampshire were wrong! Maybe there were crossed wires in those interviews where the FM members were talking about Kiln House & the interviewers thought they meant Benifold? Oh well, we've got the right place now anyways that's all that matters. :)

John

Gailh

01-19-2006, 04:32 PM

I think Benifold is in Hazlemere, Surrey which is the next county to Hampshire going north (sort of)

Gail

Of course if I could spell we'd all get on a lot better!

It's Haslemere with an 's' not a 'z'

Gail

DavidMn

01-19-2006, 05:16 PM

Oh I'm so jealous of you. That is so cool. One day my kids will be old enough to travel to the UK and indulge me as I wander about photographing FM landmarks. Or perhaps I should just go by myself or w/ Marty so i don't have to hear them complaining LOL.

-LisThat's so funny that you mention that about traveling and seeing FM landmarks. I remember when I was in Hawaii I HAH to take a picture of the Blaisdell center in Honolulu where they played on Tusk, as well as when I was in Australia I remember being in Sydney asking where the Hordern Pavilion was so I could see that too. I didnt think anyone else did that kinda stuff or thought about it.:)

DavidMn

01-19-2006, 05:17 PM

Wasn't the Penguin inner sleeve where the band was all sitting around or in a tree on the grounds for a picture? I'd look, but I dont wanna cheat.:lol:

chiliD

01-19-2006, 05:36 PM

Wasn't the Penguin inner sleeve where the band was all sitting around or in a tree on the grounds for a picture? I'd look, but I dont wanna cheat.:lol:

Also, Mystery To Me:

http://www.bobwelch.com/mystery%20to%20me%20band%202%20small.jpg

DavidMn

01-19-2006, 05:42 PM

Also, Mystery To Me:

http://www.bobwelch.com/mystery%20to%20me%20band%202%20small.jpgI forgot about that one.

bretonbanquet

01-19-2006, 07:12 PM

So, is it in Alton? I know John McVie said Kiln House was in Alton, Hampshire & that Benifold was in Hampshire county but don't know the specific town.

John

Kiln House is in Alton - I went there the same day as I went to Benifold, but I was unable to find Kiln House :(

Benifold is indeed in Hampshire, although only just - it's close to the border with Surrey. The house is not in a town as such, more on the outskirts of a small village, called Arford. Alton is about 10 miles to the west, and Haslemere is only 9 miles away to the east, but it's across the border in Surrey, hence the confusion :D

The Crown pub is a few minutes walk from Benifold, and that pub is in Arford Road, Arford. Arford is so old it was in the Domesday Book, a British land survey done in 1086 :nod:

Arford is also very close (you could walk it) to Headley, as in Headley Grange, where Led Zep recorded. There is another Headley in Hampshire and also one in Surrey, but they're different places :)

Gailh

01-20-2006, 03:54 AM

Benifold is indeed in Hampshire, although only just - it's close to the border with Surrey. The house is not in a town as such, more on the outskirts of a small village, called Arford. Alton is about 10 miles to the west, and Haslemere is only 9 miles away to the east, but it's across the border in Surrey, hence the confusion :D

Ah that explains it! I was looking at the map last night and I could see that Haslemere and Alton are close together. I didn't realise that Benifolds was not actually in Haslemere. thanks for clearing that up.

Gail

Blue Horizon

01-20-2006, 09:08 AM

Right Boys and Girls.

Geography Lesson No1:

Benifolds is situated in Headley Hill Road, Headley, Bordon, Hampshire. GU35. This is near to Grayshott and Hindhead where you will find 'The Devil's Punch Bowl', a rather nice wooded beauty spot.Where the confusion arises is because Headley and Grayshott are just over the border in Hampshire and Hindhead and Haslemere are located in Surrey. Benifolds is therefore definitely in Hampshire.

Hope this clears up any confusion.

Blue Horizon.