- Strawberry Field
Strawberry Field was a
Salvation Army children's home inWoolton , a suburb ofLiverpool ,England .The earliest reference to 'Strawberry Field' dates to 1870. In 1912 it was transferred to a wealthy merchant whose widow sold the estate to
The Salvation Army in 1934. It opened on7 July 1936 . The original house was later demolished and replaced with a smaller purpose-built home for children which was officially opened on 11.7.1973 . This home provided three family units, each accommodating 12 children.Strawberry Field has had an annual
fête , whichJohn Lennon and his aunt Mimi regularly attended. It closed its doors as a children's home in early January 2005 and is now a church and prayer centre. The famous gates marking its entrance still stand.The name of the home became world famous in
1967 , with the release ofThe Beatles single "Strawberry Fields Forever ", written byJohn Lennon andPaul McCartney . Lennon grew up near the home and used to play in the wooded area behind the building with his childhood friends,Pete Shotton andIvan Vaughan . It was also said that this place inspired Lennon to be a musician.One of Lennon's childhood treats was the garden party that took place each summer in the grounds of Strawberry Field. Lennon's Aunt Mimi recalled: "As soon as we could hear The Salvation Army band starting, John would jump up and down shouting, 'Mimi, come on. We're going to be late.'" [ The Beatles,
Hunter Davies , London, 1968, p 9]ee also
*
Strawberry Fields memorial in New York City's Central ParkReferences
External links
* [http://www.i56.org.uk i56 Church]
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