Welcome
Welcome to my photo blog, where I combine three of my greatest
interests: The Beatles, photography, and the rich history of my
home city, Liverpool.
As well as visiting the famous Beatles landmarks that appear on every
tourist map and guided tour, I hope to introduce you to some lesser-known
places with fascinating Beatles connections that are often overlooked.
Although The Beatles are always the starting point, Liverpool has a
remarkable story of its own. Along the way I'll also share other places, people
and pieces of history that have caught my attention, because in Liverpool,
history really is everywhere you look.
How it all began
When I first started this blog, my plan was simply to create a gallery
of Beatles-related photographs taken during lunchtime walks around Liverpool
city centre and weekend strolls near my home in south Liverpool.
As I began researching online, however, I soon realised two things.
First, plenty of people had already created galleries like that. Second, there
was an incredible collection of historic photographs showing many of the same
locations during the 1940s and 1950s—exactly as they would have appeared when
John, Paul, George and Ringo were growing up.
It quickly became clear that these photographs weren't just documenting
the Liverpool of four lads before they was Fab, they were also capturing the
Liverpool of my parents and the older generations of my family.
Both of my parents were born here in 1944, and their memories are much
like those of countless Liverpudlians who grew up during or just after the
Second World War: air raids, fathers returning home from overseas to a
landscape of soot-blackened buildings and bomb sites, trams, cobbled roads, the
Overhead Railway, busy docklands, overcrowded schools, ration books, tin baths,
outside toilets, prefabs, gathering around the family's first television for
the Coronation, and eventually the arrival of rock 'n' roll.
Then and now
Whenever I've found a historic photograph that interests me, I've tried
to return to the exact spot and photograph it from the same viewpoint, creating
a "then and now" comparison.
Wherever possible I've credited the original photographer or source. No
copyright infringement is intended, and I will happily remove any image if
requested by its owner. Personally, I believe great photographs deserve to be
seen and appreciated rather than forgotten in a drawer or old box—but, of
course, I respect that the decision isn't always mine to make.
My inspiration
Many excellent books have been written about the Beatles' homes and the
venues where they performed throughout Liverpool and Wirral.
The greatest inspiration for this blog, however, came from The
Beatles' London by Piet Schreuders, Mark Lewisohn and Adam Smith (1994;
revised 2008). While I never quite agreed with the book's claim of placing the
world's greatest band in the context of the world's greatest city, it did make
me wonder why nobody had produced something equally detailed about their
birthplace—which, naturally, I believe really is the world's greatest city!
That idea became the inspiration for this project.
What you'll find here
This blog is about much more than just Beatles houses and music venues.
We'll visit the hospitals where they were born, the schools they
attended, the parks where they played, the churches they worshipped in, the
cinemas they visited with friends and girlfriends, their family homes and those
of their friends, the cafés and pubs where they met, and the locations where
family photographs—and later famous Beatles photographs—were taken.
Along the way we'll also explore a myriad of museums, art galleries,
hotels, hospitals, night clubs, offices, places of marriage, restaurants,
shops, theatres, train stations and even the occasional airport.
I'm particularly interested in the dockland districts, where many of the
Beatles' Irish ancestors first arrived during the Great Famine before job
opportunities or other circumstances dispersed them across the city to places
such as Woolton, Speke, Wavertree and the Dingle—the neighbourhoods forever
associated with John, Paul, George and Ringo.
We will also visit locations associated with John's first band, the
Quarry Men, as well as those connected to individuals who were, at one time,
members of the Beatles but did not become part of the band's final lineup. From
time to time we'll even venture beyond Liverpool to visit other towns and
cities where The Beatles performed during the early years of Beatlemania.
Of course, not everything connected to the Beatles in Liverpool is part
of history. Even today, there's hardly a month that goes by without a
Beatles-related event—an unveiling, a film premiere, an exhibition, a concert,
a stage production, or even a visit from Paul McCartney. I've been fortunate
enough to attend many of these occasions, or at least be close by with my
camera, ready to capture the moment.
Whether you're a lifelong Beatles fan, interested in Liverpool's
history, or simply enjoy exploring places through photography, I hope you'll
find something here to enjoy.
Thanks for visiting, and I hope you enjoy your time Here, There and
Everywhere.
All the best,
Mark
11 September 2009
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