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John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s Childhood Homes Given Protected Status

Music
3/6/2012
12:06 pm

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Filed Under: The Beatles, 20 Forthlin Road, 251 Menlove Avenue, Childhood Homes, English Heritage, Grade II Listing, John Lennon, Listed Status, Paul McCartney, Preservation, Protected Status, Tourist Attraction, UK, UK Government

Paul McCartney and John Lennon (AP Photo)

On the advice of the English Heritage commission, the childhood homes of former Beatles members John Lennon and Paul McCartney were given protected status by the British government and designated as historic landmarks.

%name John Lennon and Paul McCartneys Childhood Homes Given Protected Status

Photo Flashback: The Beatles…

A “listed” building in the UK is one that cannot be altered, demolished, or extended without express written consent of the English Heritage commission or its local planning authority.

For a building to be listed, it must be deemed to have special architectural or historical interest.

In the case of the Lennon’s and McCartney’s childhood homes, obviously that would fall under the category of historical interest.

Emily Gee, head of designation at English Heritage, said:

“We’re delighted the Minister has listed these two evocative houses where Lennon and McCartney developed their talents and created The Beatles. Listing celebrates special interest and in the case of Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road they possess extraordinary historic and cultural interest for their strong connections with these renowned British musicians.”

English Heritage looks at all applications filled out, whether online or through mail, and then determines whether or not they require listed status.

For McCartney’s 20 Forthlin Road and Lennon’s 251 Menlove Avenue childhood homes, applications were sent in from SAVE Britain’s Heritage, a separate organization.

Photo Flashback: Beatlemania

Heritage and Tourism Minster John Penrose was pleased to accept their application and announced the Grade II listing last week.

Penrose on the former Beatles’ childhood homes:

“It’s almost impossible to overestimate the significance the Beatles had – and continue to have — on western life and culture since they first came together in the early 1960s. These houses, unremarkable from the outside, have been painstakingly preserved and restored so visitors today can get a real sense of how life must have been for the group as they were starting up.”

He continued:

“They certainly merit the extra protection from demolition and development that listing provides and will I hope continue to be places of pilgrimage for Beatles fans, young and old, for many years to come.”

Flashback to The Beatles’ first #1 hit, “Please, Please Me”