- You are tuned to Xfm London
- switch to Xfm Manchester
Strawberry Fields To Close Forever
It's been announced that Strawberry Fields, the Liverpool children's home that inspired one of John Lennon’s most famous Beatles songs, will be closed down as it has become “commercially unviable”.
The children’s home, near Mendips, Lennon's childhood house in Woolton, Liverpool, is owned by The Salvation Army and was founded in 1936. The building's management have said that with the current preference for placing children in foster homes, the facility has no reason to stay open.
"Care for young people has moved on significantly and we are responding to that change," said Marion Drew, Salvation Army divisional leader, ''We have to give two years' notice of closure, which we did yesterday, but there is no precise date for closure yet.”
The single ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ was released in February 1967 as a double A-side with ‘Penny Lane’ and is regarded my many as the crowning achievement of The Beatles’ psychedelic period.
In 1984 Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, donated more than £50,000 to keep the home solvent and Lennon himself left money to it in his will. At present no decision has yet been made on the fate of the building or its front gates, which have become a landmark shrine for Beatles fans from all around the world.
The British Beatles Fan Club called on Ono, or indeed any other benefactor, to intervene and preserve the site. "It's a pilgrimage site for many Beatles' fans," said club spokesman Dave Bedford, "Along with The Cavern and Penny Lane it's one of the main places they want to see when they visit Liverpool."
Discuss this story on the Xfm Messageboard click here
Back to Music News click here
Got a news story? Then e-mail the Xfm News Desk below.
Login to xfm+
latest videos
-
Oasis 'I'm Outta Time'
-
Xfm Meets New Order Part 1
How did New Order rise from the ashes of Joy Division? Peter Hook tells all.
-
Xfm Meets New Order Part 2
How New Order made the million-selling 12-inch monster 'Blue Monday'.
-
Xfm Meets New Order Part 3
Peter Hook reveals how New Order mastered playing electronic music live.
schedule
-
now: 4:00PM - 7:00PM
Steve Harris
-
next: 7:00PM - 10:00PM
Jon Hillcock