image for illustration: Mapledurham Watermill By Chris Wood, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
How musicians from the Fab Four to The Streets have harnessed the power of historic places in their album art
Historic England writes:
‘We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us’ – said the then British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in October 1943, following the destruction of the House of Commons Chamber by incendiary bombs during the Blitz. ‘Music can change the world because it can change people.’ – the words of U2 founding member and Irish rockstar Bono.
Whilst at first glance having little in common, both music and architecture have the capacity to change people. Both stir deep emotions, provoke strong opinions and foster meaningful connections. And some of the greatest music artists of all time understood and harnessed this. The ‘fab four’ of the Beatles, legendary rockers Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath, and electronic music pioneers The Chemical Brothers and The Streets are just some of the musicians to feature depictions of England’s historic buildings and places on their album covers.
Here are 11 historic buildings or places from across England that feature on album covers.
- Abbey Road zebra crossing, London (Grade II): The Beatles, ‘Abbey Road’ (1969)
- Battersea Power Station, London (Grade II*): Pink Floyd, ‘Animals’ (1977)
- Stocks House, Hertfordshire (Grade II): Oasis, ‘Be Here Now’ (1997)
- Stocks House also features in the music video for Madness’ 1982 song ‘Our House’ – keep reading if you’re a Madness fan, there’s more to come…
- Church of our Lady of Fatima, Essex (Grade II*): Chemical Brothers, ‘Brothers Gonna Work It Out’ (1998)
- Moore Street Substation, Sheffield (Grade II): Richard Hawley, ‘In This City They Call You Love’ (2024)
- Tower Bridge, London (Grade I): Wings, ‘London Town’ (1978)
- Kestrel House, London: The Streets, ‘Original Pirate Material’ (2002)
- Granada Cinema, London (Grade I): The Cribs, ‘Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever’ (2007)
- Chalk Farm Tube Station, London (Grade II): Madness, ‘Absolutely’ (1980)
- Mapledurham Watermill, Oxfordshire (Grade II*): Black Sabbath, ‘Black Sabbath’ (1970)
- Jephson Memorial, Leamington Spa (Grade II): Ocean Colour Scene, ‘Moseley Shoals’ (1996)
So, which of these albums is your favourite? And have we missed any? Let us know in the comments.
