Strawberry Field in Liverpool

A brief history of Liverpool’s Strawberry Field

The house at Strawberry Field dates from the 19^th century, built in the Gothic Revival style. It was the private residence of George Warren, who had made his fortune in shipping. In 1912, another wealthy couple bought it. After the merchant died, ownership of the house passed from his widow to the Salvation Army.

Two years later, in 1936, it opened as a children’s home. The large Victorian house became a children’s home, a place of refuge for some of the city’s most vulnerable youngsters. Evangeline Booth performed the opening ceremony. She was the daughter of William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army.

Strawberry Field was originally a girls-only refuge. In the 1950s, boys younger than 5 were accepted and eventually, boys of all ages. Today, you won’t see the Gothic Revival house as it was demolished in 1973 due to its unsafe structure and dry rot issues. It's replaced with 3 purpose-built units, which were used by the Salvation Army until 2005. The red gates were redundant but remained in place.

What are the highlights of Strawberry Field?

Growing up, John Lennon used to visit Strawberry Field. Behind the iconic red gates, extensive landscaped gardens surrounded the house. They were not formal gardens but a place for children to play.

Like John, kids from the local estates would have regularly joined those who lived in the children’s home. When the gates were shut, they would have scrambled over the wall to do so. A garden party took place at Strawberry Field every summer.

The memories John Lennon made here are immortalised in the song Strawberry Fields Forever. Lyrics such as “nothing is real” reinforce that this was where he could escape from the pressures of school and the outside world. 

One of the most interesting exhibits at Strawberry Field is the piano on which John Lennon composed and recorded the hit song Imagine. It is an upright Steinway model Z finished in walnut.

The late singer George Michael purchased it for £1.45 million in 2000. The piano was used in the closing ceremony of the London Olympic Games in 2012. George Michael’s estate loaned it to the exhibition so that it can be seen and enjoyed by as many people as possible.

Good to know about Strawberry Field in Liverpool

One of the most iconic sights at Strawberry Field is the pair of red gates that form the entrance on Beaconsfield Road. In fact, thieves hoping to make some easy money managed to steal them back in 2000. An antique dealer bought them without realising their significance, which led the police to his doorstep.

The gates were handed to the authorities and reinstalled at their rightful place. They’ve been there ever since, much to the delight of visiting Beatles fans.

You can book your tickets to Strawberry Field in advance from their official website. All proceeds from the exhibition, cafe, and shop sales go to supporting the Steps to Work programme. Strawberry Field is a 20-minute drive east of Liverpool city centre via the B5178 road.