Rockfield Studios Visit 31st May, 2026 by Maya James

I'm very happy and excited to share with you this amazing story, written by my friend, Maya James.  I'm sure tha Maya and Linda are the only fans of David who followed in his footsteps to this hard-to reach farm. By letting me publish her story on my blog, Maya let me feel like I was with them on that day, at Rockfield Studios. I'm forever grateful for it.

Maya James

"Last year friends visited the legendary Rockfield Studios, and it got me thinking how I had always wanted to visit after seeing a grainy picture of David posing with some children and ponies and wondered why he was there in Monmoutshire in the beautiful Valley in Wales.

I thought this would be easy, but as a working recording studio and a working farm proved difficult as it is only open to the public for a few weeks per year by ticket and not advertised on their website. Eventually I waited for release dates via the local Monmouthshire website and emailed.

Whilst in New Jersey with Weronika and Linda at the Historical Marker we planned to get together in 2026. I watched and emailed and waited patiently for dates to be released the eventually secured tickets which had almost all been snapped up.

Sadly, Weronika could not travel so my work colleague and massive Oasis fan Lee joined Linda, my husband Paul and I on the tour to Rockfield.

Linda and I met Paul in Abergavenny as we had spent a few days catching up. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday evening to travel through the beautiful, green patchwork countryside. We reached the village of Rockfield and soon were driving up the short drive to the studios. We were the last tour of the day. 

Linda and I were straight away surveying the location to where David had posed to the photos. Linda referred to the pictures and quickly knew we were in the right place. As 52 years has passed the buildings of the coach house and quadrangle had only marginally changed.

We were greeted by Mrs Anne Ward, wife of Kingsley Ward, owner of Rockfield, and his daughters Lisa and Amanda and Rockfield black and white Jack the cat whilst our group arrived. We were able to view the information boards of the history of Amberley Court Farm and its early diversification to residential recording studios.

Rockfield is a legendary location rich in music history and vintage recording equipment. 

Whilst waiting for the others to assemble we asked Lisa about her recollections of that day when David Cassidy came to the Farm. She recalled that her Mum had picked them up from school at lunchtime which was unusual as they went to school whatever. This was at his height of David's massive international fame, arriving at the studio in a classic 1970's vintage car which had broken down on the driveway. The excitement that the biggest popstar on the planet was to spend most of the day with her and her sister Amanda and cousins Brigitte, Corina and Charles, and with two of their ponies Bambi and Peter Pan was a dream come true.

Amanda stated that David rode she believes to be Peter Pan, and he bolted off up the field with David. Concerned that the biggest star at the time was hurtling up their field and hoped he would not be injured and the insurance that would ensue.

Seeing the field, and imagining David with his patched jeans and cowboy hat on that small pony galloping must have been the sight to behold.

They feared their friends would not believe them that David was with them so the photographs they had of that day were taken to school as a proof.

Reassuringly they told us the framed photograph still hangs in the house.

So why was David there? I imagined him travelling fro Heathrow on the new M4 Motorway and Severn Bridge Toll into Wales and through the Monmouthshire Countryside.

Linda's diligence and review of David Cassidy Mad No 42 confirmed he really wanted to record at Rockfield for the many reasons we and other rockstars and musicians could see. He was rearing to go. Hence the recce in person to check out the studios. The seclusion of recording in a self-contained unit surrounded by countryside and horses. Work permit issues meant they had to stick to the USA and fears that fans knew about his plans too, meant recording at Rockfield was pulled. What a shame this was.

Back Story to Rockfield.

Farmers Kingsley and his brother Charles Ward, the founders, were inspired by Elvis, and the music scene, and formed their own band the Charles Kingsley Combo in 1960.

Charles and Kingsley recorded a song on a borrowed tape deck and decided to try their luck to get a record deal by travelling to London to EMI after finding an address on an album cover, but unfortunately it was the record pressing factory. They were luckily redirected by an employer to Manchester Square, and without an appointment met with George Martin. He did not sign them but was impressed as they were one of the first to bring a portable reel tape deck with them. All the while the brothers milking the cows before and after their journey.

The following year they were signed by George Meek. They were signed and set up a recording studio at home in the attic after observing Meek's techniques. Naming it Future Sounds LTD.

The rest they say is history expanding into the rest of the buildings and becoming a residential studio in 1965. To stay in a rural idyllic setting for travel weary artists with a supportive and skilled family team must have felt like nirvana. To say this is a safe space is an understatement. Kingsley, now a spiritley 86-year-old, even after suffering a stroke two years ago, alongside his two daughters, and Tom Lewis, an invaluable part of the Rockfield team a session engineer and band producer, guided us along the history and stories pf the legendary music and the performers who had recorded at the studio.

The 2-hour tour of the buildings and studios, echo chambers demonstrations of studio equipment and music from well known groups and singers. The ambience and warmth as Kingsley shared his memories and stories. The hospitality and humour and down-to earth manner exuding from the four, no wonder musicians felt this was a safe, supportive, fun, home from home and a place to be creative. Nothing was fancy or ritzy, just Welsh homely and comforting.

I kept thinking Kingsley Ward and Henry Diltz in conversation would be dynamite

We were shown around and told enthralling stories of the recording of Bohemian Rhapsody, the piano where Freddie played 'Killer Queen', the stories of Gallagher brothers including their punch-ups and got to see the Wonderwall, drug busts, stories of Ozzy recording 'Paranoid', Coldplay recording "Yellow'. those Monmouth stars shine bright! Such a safe creative residental recording space with vintage MCI desks and real echo chambers and even about hardened rock stars sitting on the sofa watching Trumpton with the kds. The list of artists that have passed through the decades is endless and new music continues to be made.

We even got to have a sing a long and got to touch the instruments and recording equipment. There was plenty of time for chatting over tea and biscuits in the room where many legends came together, and see merchandise. The people staying were having a good time in the rooms that Liam and Noel stayed.

Even the rest room as we left to go home in the quadrangle must have heard some rhythmical tickling.

It is such a shame that David never got to record and feel cocooned by the Rockfield magic.

I feel happy that David had that unexpected day with the ponies and spent time with this wonderful family and again we could walk in his footsteps.

Oh, and I must tell you from Kingsley to watch Rockfield: The Studio on the Farm 2020."