Undercliff, Fairyland, Bermuda in an undated photo
Continuing with the origin story of John Lennon’s ‘Grow Old With Me,’ the home that real estate agent Bill Lusher and John Lennon’s assistant found in Fairyland, Bermuda was called Undercliff. It is alternately referred to in books and articles as Villa Undercliff and Undercliff villa. This would be where Lennon had his most fruitful period musically in June and July of 1980.
Located in the Pembroke parish, Undercliff is on the water and is quite secluded. The home overlooks the Great Sound and is due east of Partridge Island, approximately one tenth of a mile away. It is near Fairyland Creek.
What’s in a name?
Houses in Bermuda are given names. Some are named after significant features, like “Old Battery,” which has a historic cannon/battery site. There are other names based on location, like “Whale’s Island” and “Cable’s End.” Some have nautical themes, like “Blue Water.” Others are named after weather, like “Headwinds” and “Windcrest.” Some are more ephemeral, like “Sanctuary.”
In fact, until August 31, 2009, houses in Bermuda did not have to have a physical address to receive mail. All a letter needed was the house name. These house names can be found on stone posts, such as the one pictured at right.
While I haven’t found any definitive name evidence for Undercliff, it seems likely, looking at pictures, that the name is literal. As shown pictured at the top, the house is located under a cliff. In support of this, there are houses in the immediate area named “East Cliffe” and “West Cliffe.”
History of Undercliff
The earliest digital record I have found referencing Undercliff comes from The Queen, The Lady’s Newspaper (London) in 1879. In a section on Bermuda, the author writes:
On the way to the summit of the hill the traveller passes Undercliff Cottage, a charming resort, designed as a retreat during the honeymoon for united lovers. This place commands some magical views of water and forest; and if the happy pair choose to enjoy them, all they have to do is to enter a boat kept at the base of the rocks near the cottage, and row into lakes so tranquil that they might be taken for ice, and into caves which abound with unique coral formations and many species of fish, and whose air is perfumed by the odours of tropical flowers. The romantic scenery should alone sustain them during this period.[1]
In 1883, Undercliff was listed for rent, which is the earliest instance that the home appears in The Royal Gazette, one of Bermuda’s newspapers. (Digital records for The Royal Gazette start in 1820). The home is described as “Pleasantly situated close to the sea.”[2]
Come 1898, Undercliff was listed for sale. The listing described the home as follows:
Comprising Dwelling House of 14 rooms, Stable and coach house, bathing house, boat house, fowl house and yard enclosure, fish pond, tank. &c. and about 3 acres of land. This Property is well known, and is in the neighbourhood of Fairy Land, and capable, with the necessary means, of being made a beautiful place. Driving road all around the premises.[3]
Over subsequent decades, Undercliff is frequently listed in The Royal Gazette, alternately by someone looking for home assistance or listing the property for rent. In the 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50s, the cottage’s seasonal guests were, at times, listed in the social pages. A 1954 rental listing described Undercliff as “4 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms.”[4]
From The Royal Gazette, July 20, 1953. Page 4.
Undercliff in 1980 and beyond
In 1944, Undercliff was purchased by Sir John Cox.[5] Cox continued to own the house through 1980, when Lennon stayed there.[6] Cox was Speaker of the House for nearly 20 years and chairman of Bermuda’s largest bank. However, he rented Undercliff out.
At the time of Lennon’s stay, Undercliff was accessed by a flight of stone stairs. It had yellow stucco walls and green shutters.[7] The cottage sat on approximately three acres of land. There were two wings, one said to be dating to the 1700s and another to around 1900.[8]
The grounds of Undercliff included a private dock, a bait pool, and a Sunfish sailboat. There was a terrace overlooking the water. There was also decking and a hammock.[7] Inside the home, there was a Steinway baby grand piano.[9] However, it hadn’t been used in years and was likely out of tune.[10]
Undercliff from the 2020 property listing.
Undercliff was listed for sale in 2020 for $5.25M. The listing described the property, in part, as follows:
At the end of a quiet lane in the prestigious Fairylands Undercliff sits right on the water with a deep-water dock. Adjoining the dock is an ancient fish catch which was used in past times to store fresh fish. There is excellent swimming off the dock and the foreshore is very long which gives great privacy…There is a deep roofed verandah to the south and west of the house. Above that is an open verandah serving the bedrooms...The master bedroom has lovely views and access to the upper verandah with two large his and her walk-in closets and a full en suite bathroom. There are three further bedrooms with large closets and two further bathrooms, a storage area and linen closet.
For John Lennon, Undercliff, Fairyland, and the rest of Bermuda were, quite simply, paradise.[11]
[1] Bermuda: Chapter III. The Queen, The Lady’s Newspaper (London). April 26, 1879. Page 375.
[2] The Royal Gazette, December 4, 1883. p.3.
[3] The Royal Gazette. March 29, 1898. p.3.
[4] For rent. The Royal Gazette. September 11, 1954. p.13.
[5] Mr. David Knudsen buys Fairylands property. The Royal Gazette and Colonist Daily. September, 20 1944. Page 2.
[6] Neil, Scott. Lennon Bermuda. p. 49. Freisenbruch Brannon Media. Kindle Edition.
[7] The night I met John Lennon. The Royal Gazette, December 7, 2005.
[8] Neil, Scott. Lennon Bermuda. p.50. Freisenbruch Brannon Media. Kindle Edition.
[9] Womack, Kenneth. John Lennon 1980 – The Last Days in the Life. Omnibus Press. 2020. p.122.
[10] Seaman, Fred. The Last Days of John Lennon: A personal memoir. Birch Lane Press. 1991. p.155.
[11] 'I guess it's time to say good bye to paradise.' The Royal Gazette. December 8, 2005.