Abbey Road ‘Zebra Crossing’ Granted Historical Status

The Grade II designation by the British government comes on the advice of the Historic Building and Monuments Commission, commonly called English Heritage. Abbey Road Studios achieved Grade II status earlier this year.

Released in 1969 the album cover depicts Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and George Harrison led by a white-suited John Lennon crossing the street near Abbey Road Studios in a photograph taken by Ian Macmillan. Since then the crosswalk has been a must-see for Beatles fans visiting London, although the original crosswalk has since been moved several meters due to traffic concerns.

“It’s been a great year for me and a great year for The Beatles and hearing that the Abbey Road crossing is to be preserved is the icing on the cake,” Paul McCartney said, according to the BBC.

The head of designation at English Heritage also had a few comments about the crosswalk’s historical significance.

“This is obviously an unusual case and, although a modest structure, the crossing has international renown and continues to possess huge cultural pull – the temptation to recreate that iconic 1969 album cover remains as strong as ever.

“Together with the nearby Abbey Road studios, also listed at Grade II on our advice, they remain a Mecca for Beatles fans the world over.”

Click here to read the complete BBC report.