J. W. Lennon, Esq., M.B.E., Kenwood, Wood Lane, Cavendish Road, St George's Hill, Weybridge, Surrey.
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Liverpool: Rosebery Street.
These photos of the Quarry Men playing in Rosebery Street over half a century ago, at a party to celebrate the 550th anniversary of Liverpool receiving its charter from King John, have intrigued me since I were in t'short trackies.
I finally made it there the other day. Above, a poor quality scan from David Lewis' pretty, pretty, pretty good book about scratching the surface of Liverpool to see what's left. Rosebery Street in 1974: already shafted, in the 15 years or so since the street won some award or other for being unscummy on the 550th anniversary of Liverpool receiving its charter from King John, or something.
Here it is now:
Nothing left of the terraces: this area was levelled a while back. I reckon the "Men" probably played somewhere around the middle of the street. There were a couple of notable events this day: they had to take refuge in the house of the "celebration's" organiser (Colin Hanton's aunt), because some thugs from round the corner in Hatherley Street had decided to offer an instant review of the performance, via their fists. Whilst hiding out, John took the opportunity to smash Pete Shotton's washboard over his head, thus ending another brief tenure in the band. X doesn't mark the spot, but it's likely someone's front drive now.
So, nothing left then? Well, not quite. The back end of the aforementioned Hatherley Street is still there - a Quarry Man's eye view (unless there were yet more soon to be derelict terraced houses on the other side, which there probably were):
Hatherley Street itself still exists as was, although, again, it's mainly derelict. Still, this is what Rosebery Street must have looked liked back in the day... if you discount the dereliction:
Of the former Rosebery Street, nowt remains, except these stones, upon which the Quarry Men played:
For anyone thinking about a Beatling trip to the "Pool Of Life", I'd recommend Mr Lewis' book "The Beatles Liverpool Landscapes" - very interesting, and the man has impeccable taste in websites arf arf.
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