In 1965 this was the car, a Rolls Royce Phantom V Touring Limousine, that delivered the Beatles to Buckingham Palace to collect their MBEs from the Queen. It was black at that time, but Lennon later commissioned artist Steve Weaver to create this custom paint job prior to the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967.
The Rolls Royce Phantom would later travel to New York City with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, but was later donated to a design museum. John Lennon's Rolls Royce was then auctioned in 1985 by Sotheby's and found its way to Vancouver for Expo 86 before once again being donated, this time to the province of British Columbia. Today, this iconic vehicle and art piece can be found on display at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, BC.
Completed in 1890, Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, British Columbia is a historic mansion that was commissioned by wealthy coal baron and railway developer Robert Dunsmuir.
Built as a family residence, the home has over 35 rooms and features elaborate stonework, tiles, stained glass, and wood carvings throughout. Sadly, Robert Dunsmuir passed before the castle was finished, but his sons saw the project to completion. In fact, his son James Dunsmuir also went on to commission Hatley Castle, another impressive landmark on Vancouver Island.
View Part 2 of this series from Craigdarroch Castle here.
