Exclusive report from Jackie Spencer,
who attended last night's auction in the Cavern Club, Liverpool, when John Lennon's first home was sold:
"Excitement tonight at The Cavern Club when 9, Newcastle Road, the childhood home of John Lennon, went under the hammer. The start of the auction was delayed as there were problems contacting a mystery telephone bidder from the USA. But then, at 6.45, the auctioneer started explaining the legalities, and then the bidding started. The opening bid was £150,000, which was the estimated value of the house ... but that was without the Lennon connection.
About 50 people were in the Cavern Live Lounge for the auction, but only around 4 or 5 were bidding. Slowly at first, sometimes going up by only £1,000 at a time, the bidding increased. Then the excitement mounted as it became apparent there were two potential buyers left in a bidding war,one in the room and a mystery American lady on the phone.
Everyone was holding their breath, and then the man in the room dropped out at £475,000. The house was bought for a staggering £480,000! I was sitting right next to the vendors who I know from my tours, and turned to see the lady who was sitting with her head in her hands - she said to me "I feel sick!" but she was obviously delighted with the result.
So who is the mystery bidder? Would love to know!"
Earlier that afternoon, Donna Jackson of the British Beatles Fan Club had been invited round to 9 Newcastle Road for one last visit before the sale. Photographs had not been allowed during the viewing period but we were delighted, and very privileged, to be given permission to take and publish photos of some of the features inside the property.
As you can see from these photos, the house needs some attention, and decorating, but we hope that the new buyer keeps as many of the original features as possible, and the character of the house where John spent the first few years of his life. We'd very much like to thank the vendor for allowing us access, and for her permission to share the photos with you.
|
The ceiling rose in the front room. Imagine John
gazing up at this as he was cradled in Julia's arms. |
|
Fireplace from the front room |
|
Some of the lovely cornice work in the front room |
|
The bay window in the front room |
|
Wallpaper in the hall, stairs and upstairs landing. Possibly
original to the 1940s and 1950s |
|
Some of the more modern flooring has been removed to
reveal the original lino in the kitchen -- maybe John was
conceived on this spot! |
|
The beautiful pantry door -- maybe painted by Julia? |
|
Imagine a four-year old boy holding on to the stair rods
as he clambered up and down the stairs |
|
Another lovely ceiling rose |
|
Imagine a little boy peeking through the stair rods
on the upstairs landing |
|
View from the window in the front room |
|
Flooring in the bathroom -- possibly from the
1940s or 1950s? |
|
View out the back from the middle bedroom |
|
Original brickwork |
|
Floorig in the middle bedroom, believed to be original |
|
Looking up the stairs |
|
Imagine a little boy sitting on these stairs ... I wonder
if it was his naughty step?! |
|
More lovely cornice work in the downstairs hall |
|
Original internal window in the downstairs hall |
NB: All photos copyright Donna Jackson, British Beatles Fan Club. Please do not download or share without acknowledging the British Beatles Fan Club and citing this link, or without the express permission of the copyright holder.
I think we all know who it is,without doubt its a Mrs Ono Lennon - would put my life on it !
ReplyDeleteAnd so what if it was?! At least it would be preserved and not destroyed.
ReplyDelete