Childhood home of George Harrison goes up for auction

George Harrison at home in Upton Green, Speke, Liverpool, 1961.

(Liverpool Echo) A piece of Beatles history will go under the hammer at Liverpool’s world-famous Cavern Club later this month when the childhood home of George Harrison goes up for auction.

The three bedroom, mid-terraced property in Upton Green, Speke, has a guide price of £100,000-plus. But because of its historical associations as a popular hang-out for the band during their formative years, it has already attracted worldwide interest and is likely to go for much more.

John Lennon’s first home in Newcastle Road, Wavertree, sold at auction for £480,000 last year, from a guide price of £150,000-plus. The buyer is still unknown.

George was born on February 25, 1943, at his family’s previous home on Arnold Grove, a cramped two-up, two-down terrace in Wavertree. His dad Harold was a bus driver, while his mum Louise was of Irish descent. He also had two brothers and a sister.

George’s parents, Harold and Louise, sorting through fan mail.

After his parents were offered a brand new council house, the family moved to Upton Green, Speke, in 1950. George spent 12 happy years living there before fame and stardom whisked him away in 1962.

It was from here that George walked the short distance to the bus stop to take him to school at the Liverpool Institute for Boys each day. And at that same bus stop, he befriended another Institute pupil, Paul McCartney.

Shortly after getting to know McCartney, who was already part of John Lennon’s band The Quarrymen, George was invited to join the group, with 25 Upton Green becoming a regular rehearsal venue – due in large part to the tolerance of Mr and Mrs Harrison.

It was from the very doorstep of number 25 that the iconic photo was taken of a 15-year-old George on his way to a Quarrymen gig, guitar case in hand.

Off to rehearsals: 15-year-old George Harrison outside his folks’ home 25 Upton Green, Liverpool 1958.

After the band’s success George bought his mum and dad a bungalow in Appleton, outside Warrington, in 1965.

In recent years, the former council property in Upton Green has undergone a complete renovation with a hallway, lounge, kitchen/dining room and a family sized rear garden. The first floor includes three spacious bedrooms, bathroom and WC.

George Harrison’s home, Upton Green 25, Liverpool, Speke.

The sale of the house is being organised by Countrywide Property Auctions, and will take place at the Cavern Club on October 20, at 7pm.

Two other former Beatles homes, Lennon’s house “Mendips” in Menlove Avenue and the McCartney family home in Forthlin Road have both been purchased by the National Trust, restored back to what they looked like when the young composers lived there, and turned into Beatles tourist attractions. No such interests has been expressed in relation to the former homes of the “tourist class” Beatles members George Harrison or Ringo Starr.