The studio was established in 1975 by Frank Andrews, a lighting technician who had toured across the UK with bands such as
Queen,
ABBA, and
the Rolling Stones. Andrews returned home from tour to discover his parents had moved to a different place, which is where Ridge Farm Studio was born. He started the studio with his brother, Billy, as a quiet place for bands to rehearse. Ridge Farm Studio did well enough that Andrews was eventually able to buy the property from his parents. It remained a popular location well into the 1990s, after the surge of
Britpop. However, bookings eventually dwindled.
Joe Jackson was the last person to record there in 2002. It was located in the village of
Rusper, England, near the
Surrey and
Sussex border. The oldest part of the building, originally a
mediaeval farmhouse, and what was to become Ridge Farm Studio was built in the mid-17th century and additions to the building were added over the centuries. The studio was surrounded by of land that included gardens, orchards, meadows and woodland. The studio's clients included
the Smiths,
Bad Company,
Queen,
Rush,
Ozzy Osbourne,
Brainstorm, and
Gang of Four. It closed in early 2003, and it is now used as a facility for weddings, banquets and meetings. ==References==