12 Arnold Grove facts for kids
12 Arnold Grove is a house located near the Picton Clock Tower in Wavertree, a suburb of Liverpool, England. This special house is famous because it was the birthplace and childhood home of George Harrison, a member of the legendary band The Beatles.
George Harrison's Childhood Home
This house is a small terraced house. This means it's one of several houses joined together in a row, sharing side walls. It's located on a cul-de-sac, which is a street that is closed at one end, so it has no through traffic. There's also a small alley behind the house.
Life at Arnold Grove
George Harrison's parents, Harold and Louise, moved into 12 Arnold Grove in 1931, right after they got married. The rent for the house was ten shillings each week. All four of their children were born here:
- Louise (born August 16, 1931)
- Harry (born 1934)
- Peter (born July 20, 1940 – died June 1, 2007)
- George (born February 25, 1943 – died November 29, 2001)
George Harrison lived in this house for the first six years of his life. His family had lived there for almost 20 years by the time they moved out. On January 2, 1950, they moved to a new council house in Speke. George's oldest brother, Harry, remembered their home fondly. He said, "Our little house was just two rooms up and two rooms down." He also mentioned that despite its size, their home was always "very close-knit" and full of comfort.
Inside the House
George Harrison once shared memories of living at 12 Arnold Grove. He recalled that the only way to heat the house was with a single coal fire. In winter, the house would get so cold that he and his brothers didn't want to get out of bed. They even had to use a toilet located outside!
The rooms inside the house were quite small, about ten feet by ten feet (which is about 9 square meters). The back room had a small iron cooking stove and was used as the kitchen. George also described the small back garden. It had a narrow flowerbed, the outdoor toilet, a dustbin attached to the back wall, and a small hen house where they kept cockerels.
