The Beatles had humble beginnings in Liverpool and lived, with the possible exception of John Lennon, in modest homes.
But today, it’s a whole different story. Liverpool now has the fastest rising house prices of any UK city – and that’s even before you take into consideration the association of these particular houses with four of the world’s most famous men.
This means that the value of many of these properties is undoubtedly well above the local average price, due to the “star value” and historical significance of these buildings.
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Because of this, whenever a property associated with the Beatles’ childhood hits the market, it attracts worldwide interest.
While some of these early homes have been demolished or redeveloped, many are still normal residential homes, offering house hunters the opportunity to live in a piece of history – or simply make a wise investment, as the value of these properties can only increase.
In the case of Lennon and McCartney’s childhood homes in Woolton and Allerton respectively, the properties have been bought by the National Trust and turned into tourist attractions, attracting fans from all over who want to know where their heroes started.
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Paul McCartney’s house
Paul McCartney’s childhood home at 72 Western Avenue in Speke was where the Beatles legend lived between 1947 and the mid-1950s.
It sold in six minutes to a local mystery buyer for £150,000 at an auction held at the Cavern Club in 2015.
At the time, Macca’s childhood home cost more than double the average price of a property on the same road.
The buyer of the property, who did not wish to be named, said he was “delighted” to have won the sale.
Auctioneer Andrew Brown, of Countrywide Property, opened the auction, telling the audience: “Tonight you are bidding on part of Liverpool’s national heritage. Sir Paul McCartney’s property is emblematic of this city. “
According to Good Move, the exact price of the property in the 1940s and 1950s is unknown. But a council house in the same area came at an average price of £1,891.
Over the past year, properties in Speke had an overall average price of £117,035.
The majority of sales in Speke over the past year have been for terraced properties, selling for an average price of £111,427. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £124,593, apartments for £95,333.
Sir Paul’s other childhood home, on Forthlin Road, is now a National Trust property and is preserved in the same historic condition as when he grew up there.
George Harrison’s house
George Harrison was born at 12 Arnold Grove, Wavertree in 1943 and grew up with his mother, father and three siblings.
He lived in the small terraced house for the first four years of his life. The house had an outhouse and its only heat came from a single coal fire.
In 1949 he and his family were offered a council house and moved to 25 Upton Green, Speke.
(Image: Omega Auctions)
Harrison rehearsed with John Lennon and Paul McCartney at home, whom his family left in 1962 just as the Fab Four were about to hit the big time.
Last month, on the 20th anniversary of George’s death, the terraced house sold for £171,000 at auction. It was bought by an American fan of the band when it went under the hammer at Omega Auctions in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside.
Auctioneer Paul Fairweather said the American was “a Beatles fan but also saw it as a good investment”.
Ringo Starr’s house
Ringo Starr, born Richard Starkey, was born in 1940 and grew up with his parents at 9 Madryn Street, Dingle.
The family later moved to Admiral Grove to reduce housing costs.
Ringo lived at number 10 for 20 years, before becoming famous.
The family rented their Madryn Street house for 10 shillings a week at the time, although later plans were announced for its demolition. It has since been refurbished.
There is no current estimate for Number 9, but properties in Dingle had an overall average price of £112,006 over the past year according to Rightmove.
The majority of sales in Dingle over the past year have been for terraced properties, selling for an average price of £108,492. Apartments sold on average for £104,600, semi-detached properties for £111,144.
In 2016, the house at 10 Admiral Grove was purchased by Beatles fan Jackie Holmes.
Auctioneer Countrywide’s lot 101 had a guide price of £55,000 and had even generated interest ahead of the US auction.
But it was Beatles fan Jackie, who had previously purchased two other Beatles properties, who won the auction.
John Lennon’s house
Like the rest of the Beatles, John Lennon moved around and lived in different homes.
He started at 9 Newcastle Road with his mother before his Aunt Mimi took custody of John and he moved to his most famous place of residence – Mendips.
Located at 251 Menlove Avenue, Woolton, the house is also National Trust property like Paul’s former home and sees thousands of visitors each year.
(Photo: TripAdvisor)
Then as now, Menlove Avenue is one of Liverpool’s most desirable addresses, with properties currently having an overall average price of £647,500 over the past year.
In reality, the house where John Lennon lived would now be worth much more due to its historical significance. His widow Yoko Ono bought the property in 2002 before donating it to the National Trust.
She is also believed to have successfully bid for the Newcastle Road property at auction in 2013, although this has never been confirmed.
Another house where John lived as a child has since been converted into an AirBnB.
The Grade II listed building on Allerton Road was owned by George Smith, the husband of John Lennon’s Aunt Mimi.
Kelley Kupfer – who is from America – bought the property on Allerton Road, Woolton after a tour of the best Beatles hotspots in Liverpool.
It was then that in 2016 the property came on the market for £325,000 with the Whitegate branch in Woolton and the 60-year-old bought it.
Although she’s not a particular Beatles fan, the retired nurse filled the house with carefully thought-out memorabilia and never-before-seen photos provided by Lennon’s family.
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