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Mendips & Forthlin Road Tour Review

I was asked to review this tour shortly after my Magical Mystery Tour experience so after already sampling a taste of the Beatles story, I felt more than happy to discover more intriguing details about the pasts of two musical legends.

I was lucky to be one of only five tourists on the day - two ladies from Boston, Massachusetts, a lovely retired couple from Somerset and me, all the way from Mossley Hill.

We were collected from our meeting point outside the National Conservation Centre at 10:50am by the minibus that would deliver us to the two famous homes. It ain't any ordinary minibus however - bright yellow with two very familiar faces splashed over the back and sides! So there's no disguising where you're off to! Our friendly driver, Dave, drove us out of the centre via the city's spectacular Cathedrals as we then passed through the Dingle area of Toxteth and he informed us of Ringo Starr's upbringing here. This was once a wealthy area of Liverpool where rich cotton merchants and ship traders built their stunning mansion houses but over the past hundred years it has become a very working class part of the city but a place Ringo recently described as been very proud of.

After a twenty minute drive we arrived outside 251 Menlove Avenue in Woolton otherwise known as 'Mendips'. This was the childhood home of John Lennon where he resided from the age of five with his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George.

We were met by the custodian, Sylvia who invited us into the house via the back garden which she informed us was the traditional way Aunt Mimi would have welcomed her guests. The Trust has restored 'Mendips' as it would have appeared in the fifties and they are lucky that the previous owner had not altered many of the original features. It really did feel like I'd stepped back in time.

The house was bought several years ago by Yoko Ono Lennon and she very kindly donated it to the National Trust so "everyone who loves John's music and his message of peace can see where it all began". Yoko is right - the three bed semi is a very peaceful house, surrounded by pretty gardens that would have at one time inspired a man to write songs about its tranquillity.

Sylvia toured us around the house, including John's little bedroom where he spent days dreaming of a being a pop star. She told us how Aunt Mimi was reluctant to allow John to rehearse in the house but she did allow the boys to play in the front porch and I was told by Dave that this porch was the place where the boys formed the Beatles famous stance! So of course I had to go and stand on the spot didn't I? If not to turn me into an international superstar but to at least try and capture some creative genius!

We were inside the house for about 30 minutes before Dave collected us to transport us to number 20, Forthlin Road - the former home of Paul McCartney. It was only a short drive from 'Mendips' to Paul's area of Allerton and Dave told us how Forthlin Road was at one time classed as 'Mather Avenue Council Estate'. As we were driven further into the Estate, it became apparent that Paul's background was much more working class in comparison to John's and the house reflected this.

We pulled up outside a row of council houses and outside the front of one of them was another John, the custodian of the house. John was a real character and appeared very familiar as I later joked with him that his looks surely were the only reason he got the job! I reckon women my mum's age would be in their element when they find themselves stood in Macca's old bedroom with this particular custodian. He's the closest you'll get to the real thing and he certainly adds authenticity to the trip!

We were toured around the house that became the birthplace of over one hundred Beatles's songs and there's evidence everywhere from the piano in the living room to a photo of Paul and John writing 'Love Me Do'. This is the earliest photo of John Lennon wearing his trademark glasses that he hated at the time taken discreetly by a young Mike McCartney. Mike's passion for black and white photography is apparent with many framed displays of his work around the walls including a young Paul getting dressed for a gig and yes ladies - he's topless!

Forthlin Road has had numerous visits from Mike McCartney over the years and with his helpful input the Trust has been able to keep the house looking slightly worn and 'tatty' which was true to how it would have felt all those years ago. I asked John if he'd ever had the pleasure of meeting Sir Paul and apparently Sir Paul has knocked on the door twice in the last five years when John was not home! There's still time.

I left Forthlin Road and as the other tourists travelled with Dave back to the city centre, I asked to walk 'under the blue suburban skies' back to my nearby home. It took me less than twenty minutes door to door, giving me chance to recollect my thoughts and discover the close proximity of our houses. I began to imagine how once in another lifetime I may have actually known the boys or even possibly dated Macca! Maybe that's a little bit weird or did I simply get swept away with the whole experience?

It was certainly a worthwhile one, one to truly compliment the Magical Mystery Tour but Mendips & 20 Forthlin Road is incredible for Beatles fanatics. You really do get up close and personal to where it all began for Lennon and McCartney and this year the tour is running for nine months of the year as appose to seven so you've ample opportunity.

I've certainly had a true insight into the past of two boys who came from such ordinary but contrasting backgrounds and how their chance meeting was one to rock the musical world forever.

1. Do take your camera but remember to obey the rules and stick to photography outside the front of the houses only.

2. Ask custodian John to show you his claim to fame!

3. Ask as many questions as you like. The custodians are full of exciting stories about the boys so make sure you get your money's worth!

4. National Trust members can purchase tickets at a discounted price of £7 each - bargain!

Written by Helen Noble (April 08)