01The Beatle’s gift
In 1972 a devotee saw that Piggott’s Manor, a Victorian mock-Tudor house at Letchmore Heath, was for sale, and George Harrison, already a devotee of Krishna and a friend of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bought it for the movement. The devotees moved in in February 1973 and renamed it after their teacher. Prabhupada stayed here on his visits to England and installed the deities of Radha and Krishna, named Gokulananda, the joy of Gokul. In 2011 a part of the estate was dedicated to Harrison’s memory.
02The campaign for worship
As crowds grew, the local council moved in the 1980s to stop public worship on the grounds of traffic in the village. Hindus across Britain rallied in defence of the temple, with marches in London and petitions to Parliament, and in 1996 permission was granted for a new access road so that worship could continue. Today the Manor keeps a herd of protected cows, a school, and gardens, and its Janmashtami festival draws tens of thousands in a single day.
The life of this place
- February 1973The devotees move into the manor bought by George Harrison and rename it Bhaktivedanta Manor.
- 1996Planning permission for a new access road secures public worship after a long campaign.
- 29 November 2011Part of the estate is dedicated to George Harrison.
Near Watford, about 25 km north-west of central London; a shuttle runs from Radlett station at festivals. Janmashtami entry is by free ticket.
