In My Liverpool Home - Part One

I've just got back from a weekend visit to my elder daughter in Liverpool, somewhere I now think of as my spiritual home. I got to thinking of why this was. When I was a teenager the Beatles were my heroes as well as the rest of the bands producing what is now the Mersey Sound. 

It was not until the 1970s that I actually visited the city when one of my friends was responsible for developments in the Albert Dock, the first part of the regeneration of the modern city. That tied in with one of my other interests - Industrial Archaeology.

Then my daughter went to John Moores University and never came home! Apparently that happens to many students who find the city so attractive that they settle! That meant that visits to the city increased and over the years we discovered the Beatles sites in Liverpool - she is the daughter who is a Beatles fan too. We went on the National Trust tour of John and Paul's homes as well as the cemetery where Stuart Sutcliffe is buried. I told you we were fans. Here we are at Mendips, John Lennon's childhood home.

Most times I am in the city I try to visit the Cavern - yes I know its not real but the music is as are most of the visitors. Not all of them are tourists, some are just locals dropping in for some good music. Often bands who have been gigging around the area for 40 years are playing. They love the music and so do I.

Here I am outside the Cavern, and inside where another fan, wearing a fab Beatles shirt took our picture. That's another reason why I love Liverpool. People are so friendly. Coming from the south you do not expect people to talk to you, but in Liverpool its so friendly. 

We also love going to pubs in Mathew Street, the White Star and the Grapes. The White Star is one of those lovely old fashioned pubs with different bars where the Beatles went to be paid by Bob Wooler after gigs.  Here is a picture of that back bar from the pub's web site.

Stairs with memorabilia

Back bar

The Grapes was where the Beatles went for a drink before gigs, the Cavern was unlicensed then. Amazingly some of the wallpaper, which dates back to those days and features in photos of the band, survives. Once when we were there it was a karaoke afternoon. Liverpool has always been famous for music and in particular for singing in pubs. One of my happiest memories of Liverpool pubs. The audience even applauded the most nervous of singers and sang along too. Happy days!

I hope I have succeeded in persuaded you how happy I am 'In My Liverpool  Home'. More to follow soon.

PS  In My Liverpool Home performed by the Spinners.