St Peter's Church, Woolton.
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I've been staying in Liverpool this last week so took the opportunity to take a bus ride out to Woolton to visit St Peter's Church, where Paul first saw John perform on stage nearly 58 years ago. I took several photos which I'll hopefully be able to add to this thread. The grave with the headstone in the lower left hand corner is that of John's 'uncle George' Smith (and others !!!), who died in 1955, two years before John & Paul 'formally' met. Understandably much changes over a period of 58 years. All that you see in the photo above was the field where the garden fete was held and where the Quarry Men performed. The school wasn't there then, nor were the hedges or the even the graves, which are all relatively recent additions. Looking through a gap in the hedge, and into the school's playing area, this would have been in 1957 the far end of the church field and where Paul would have watched the Quarry Men perform. Turning around and looking back down the pathway towards the church, possibly the route Paul would have taken to meet John properly in the Church Hall, after the Quarry Men had performed. On the left hand side of the church (as viewed from the road), is the famous 'Eleanor Rigby' headstone ( second from left and lighter in colour). The church as viewed from the entrance driveway to the church hall where John and Paul were 'officially' introduced. (They were actually introduced in the scout hut earlier in the afternoon,but as with all things Beatles, that's a different story ) The church hall. Driveway leading up into the church hall car park. Incidentally the building on the right isn't the hall itself,which is situated behind me.
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I went there the day after Paul's concert and watched the Quarrymen concert at the church hall. If you want me to post pictures, just let me know.
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Please do. I did take a few exterior shots of the church hall but it was all closed up so I didn't get the chance to see inside.
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Love the photos! Wow, what an experience for you! I would Love to see it all. Have a great time.
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hey_kittay:
Love the photos! Wow, what an experience for you! I would Love to see it all. Have a great time.
Its amazing really. You can read hundreds of books about 'the event' and yet its not until you actually visit the location that it kind of all becomes 'real'.....and that's despite all the changes that have occurred to the location over the years.
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nice pics. looking forward to seeing more.
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dcshark:
nice pics. looking forward to seeing more.
Thank you. I've added a few more from the church hall location. I did take other photos during my stay in Liverpool which I'll post up in new 'location themed' threads.
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Great pictures, thank you for sharing them here! I had the pleasure of going there last October as well, very nice to see it all in person. We got into the hall that day, but the Vicar who allowed us to go in told us no pictures inside as there was a small children's group in there at the time, so we of course put our cameras away inside.
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paulfan11:
Great pictures, thank you for sharing them here! I had the pleasure of going there last October as well, very nice to see it all in person. We got into the hall that day, but the Vicar who allowed us to go in told us no pictures inside as there was a small children's group in there at the time, so we of course put our cameras away inside.
Thank you. That was a pity about not being able to take photos, but I guess its understandable these days, and at least you actually got inside. So well done on your timing. Last Wednesday I went on the National Trust tour to see inside the childhood homes of John & Paul, but again, no photos were allowed inside,....or even in the back gardens !!! In Paul's old home it was because brother Mike has his photos displayed on the walls. I'm not sure what the excuse was for John's former home though.
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I would love to see more photos when you post them. It must be a mystical experience just being there. It would be a nice place to get married. It is an Anglican Church so I could get married there since I am an Episcopalian. I guess you need special permission. It would be really nice.
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Kestrel:
Please do. I did take a few exterior shots of the church hall but it was all closed up so I didn't get the chance to see inside.
Here's one I took at the church hall with four original Quarrymen: John Lowe, Colin Hanton, Rod Davis and Len Garry. And here's one I took of the Quarrymen playing at the church hall:
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Kestrel:
paulfan11:
Great pictures, thank you for sharing them here! I had the pleasure of going there last October as well, very nice to see it all in person. We got into the hall that day, but the Vicar who allowed us to go in told us no pictures inside as there was a small children's group in there at the time, so we of course put our cameras away inside.
Thank you. That was a pity about not being able to take photos, but I guess its understandable these days, and at least you actually got inside. So well done on your timing. Last Wednesday I went on the National Trust tour to see inside the childhood homes of John & Paul, but again, no photos were allowed inside,....or even in the back gardens !!! In Paul's old home it was because brother Mike has his photos displayed on the walls. I'm not sure what the excuse was for John's former home though.
Yes, it was all thanks to our Beatles Taxi Tour guide who approached the Vicar while we were there, who then said it was ok under those provisions. I was surprised about that as well, when they said no pictures allowed. I understand about Paul's house since there are the photos and other items there that belonged to the McCartney family, but it is strange about John's house since there really isn't much as far as original items in the house, other than those two pieces of Mimi's furniture.
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5th-beatle:
And here's one I took of the Quarrymen playing at the church hall:
Excellent photos and what great mementos to have of your visit. Thanks for sharing them.
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paulfan11:
I was surprised about that as well, when they said no pictures allowed.
Maybe its simply a National Trust policy with all their properties? At least I can post this photo here.
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hey_kittay:
It would be a nice place to get married. It is an Anglican Church so I could get married there since I am an Episcopalian. I guess you need special permission. It would be really nice.
You should set your sights higher....how about the Anglican cathedral? Incidentally, the cathedral is directly opposite Gambia Terrace where John lived for about four months in 1960, when he was staying with Stuart Sutcliffe and friends. Their flat overlooked the cathedral.
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Kestrel:
paulfan11:
Great pictures, thank you for sharing them here! I had the pleasure of going there last October as well, very nice to see it all in person. We got into the hall that day, but the Vicar who allowed us to go in told us no pictures inside as there was a small children's group in there at the time, so we of course put our cameras away inside.
Thank you. That was a pity about not being able to take photos, but I guess its understandable these days, and at least you actually got inside. So well done on your timing. Last Wednesday I went on the National Trust tour to see inside the childhood homes of John & Paul, but again, no photos were allowed inside,....or even in the back gardens !!!
At Mendips I took a photo through the gate of the side garden and door which leads to the kitchen before the guide told us no photos of that! He didn't make me delete it though.
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^ Typically though the NT don't seem to have any problems allowing their own photos to be made available to the public. So long as they get paid....by the Liverpool Echo in this instance.....presumably? : http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/paul-mccartney-childhood-home-photos-9219810
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Kestrel:
hey_kittay:
It would be a nice place to get married. It is an Anglican Church so I could get married there since I am an Episcopalian. I guess you need special permission. It would be really nice.
You should set your sights higher....how about the Anglican cathedral? http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f352/aerodrome/LiverpoolJune2015%20024_zps1z4ou2lq.jpg Incidentally, the cathedral is directly opposite Gambia Terrace where John lived for about four months in 1960, when he was staying with Stuart Sutcliffe and friends. Their flat overlooked the cathedral.
Such a beautiful Anglican cathedral. I am sure it is amazingly ornate inside and outside. I am stuck on St. Peter's in Woolton for a wedding myself. It would have more meaning to me. I would like a small, intimate, service. Love to see these photos. I feel like it is the closest I can get now.
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Very cool , thank you for those