Strawberry Field



Strawberry Field was a Salvation Army children's home in Woolton, a suburb of Liverpool, 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 on 7 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, which John 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 orphanage became world famous in 1967, with the release of The Beatles single "Strawberry Fields Forever", written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Lennon grew up near the orphanage and used to play in the wooded area behind the building with his childhood friends, Pete Shotton and Ivan 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.'"