Strawberry Field facts for kids
Strawberry Field is a famous place in Liverpool, England. It used to be a children's home run by The Salvation Army. This home helped children from 1936 until 2005.
The land and original house were first built in the Victorian era for a wealthy family. Later, in the 1930s, the Salvation Army bought it. The old house was taken down in 1973 because it had problems. New buildings were put up instead. Even after closing as a children's home, the Salvation Army still uses the site for different activities.
Strawberry Field became known worldwide because of the Beatles. Their 1967 song "Strawberry Fields Forever" made it famous. John Lennon, who wrote the song, grew up very close by. He often played in the grounds of the children's home when he was a boy.
Over time, the old red gates of Strawberry Field became a popular spot. Many Beatles fans from all over the world came to visit them. In 2019, Strawberry Field opened to the public for the first time. It now has an exhibition about its history, a cafe, and a shop. It also has a training center for young people with special educational needs.
The famous gates were stolen on May 11, 2000. They were later found and returned to the police. Today, the original gates are back on the grounds of Strawberry Field.
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History of Strawberry Field
The first mention of the large house, called Strawberry Field, was in 1870. It was a beautiful Gothic Revival style mansion. A rich shipping owner named George Warren lived there.
Maps from 1891 showed the property as "Strawberry Fields" (plural). But by 1905, it was called "Strawberry Field" (singular). In 1912, another wealthy merchant owned it. His wife later sold the estate to the Salvation Army in 1934.
The children's home officially opened on July 7, 1936. Lady Bates and General Evangeline Booth were there for the opening. General Booth was the daughter of the Salvation Army's founder, William Booth. The home could care for up to 40 girls. In the 1950s, boys under five years old also started living there. Later, older boys were also welcomed.
The Beatles and Strawberry Field
The name Strawberry Field became very famous in 1967. This was when the Beatles released their song "Strawberry Fields Forever". John Lennon wrote the song. He grew up nearby at 251 Menlove Avenue. Strawberry Field is on Beaconsfield Road, which is a street off Menlove Avenue.
One of John Lennon's favorite childhood activities was the summer garden party. These parties took place every year on the grounds of Strawberry Field. John's Aunt Mimi remembered how excited he would get. She said, "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.'"
John Lennon often climbed over the walls of Strawberry Field. He wanted to play with the children who lived in the home. The people who ran the home sometimes complained to his school about this. But John kept going. His Aunt Mimi told him he would get into big trouble if he continued. But he still did. This is why the song has the lyric, "Nothing to get hung about, Strawberry Fields forever." It meant there was nothing to worry about or be punished for.
Strawberry Field's Legacy
A famous expert, Nikolaus Pevsner, noted Strawberry Field in his 1969 survey of buildings. However, by then, the old building was not in good shape. By 1973, it had serious problems like dry rot. It was cheaper to tear down the building than to fix it.
A new children's home was built in its place. This new home had three separate units. Each unit could house 12 children. The main entrance for cars was moved to a different spot on Beaconsfield Road. This meant the old gateposts with the name "Strawberry Field" were no longer used for entry.
Even so, the unused entrance and its gates became a very important place. Beatles fans from all over the world came to see them. Because of this, the gates were always painted bright red. The nameplates on them were also kept looking nice.
The children's home closed in January 2005. After that, the Salvation Army used the building as a church and prayer center. The famous gates at the old entrance were taken down in May 2011. They were replaced with copies.
In September 2019, the Salvation Army opened Strawberry Field to the public. Visitors can now explore the grounds. The site includes a training center for young people with special educational needs. There is also a new exhibition space that tells the story of Strawberry Field. Plus, visitors can enjoy a cafe and a shop.
See also
In Spanish: Strawberry Field para niños
