Music

Abbey Road street crossing recognized as national monument

by Ciaran Thompson

Sometime in August 1969, John, Paul, George and Ringo took 10 minutes to shoot the cover art for their eleventh studio album by walking across a zebra crossing on Abbey Road while police stopped traffic.

Over 40 years later, that crossing has been recognized as a nationally important monument by Minister for Tourism and Heritage John Penrose.

Since Abbey Road was released in 1969, the crossing has become a pilgrimage site for Beatles fans and it was recently given a Grade II listing, the first time the honor has been awarded to a zebra crossing.

“This London zebra crossing is no castle or cathedral but, thanks to The Beatles and a 10-minute photoshoot one August morning in 1969, it has just as strong a claim as any to be seen as part of our heritage,” Penrose said. [NME]