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George Harrison's childhood home up for auction

Omega Auctions George's Harrison's Speke homeOmega Auctions
The house retains some original features, including the bath, sink and doors

The childhood home of George Harrison is up for auction.

The Beatles guitarist moved to 25 Upton Green in Speke, Liverpool, in 1949 when he was six years old.

He rehearsed with John Lennon and Paul McCartney at the house, which the Harrisons left in 1962 just as the Fab Four were about to hit the big time.

Auctioneer Paul Fairweather said the three-bedroom property was "a steal" at an estimated price of between £160,000 and £200,000.

Omega Auctions A young George Harrison holding a guitar case outside his Speke homeOmega Auctions
Harrison, pictured outside the family home in Speke, learned to play the guitar at 25 Upton Green

Harrison, the youngest of four children, previously lived with his parents Harold and Louise - and the family's pet cockerels - in a small house in Arnold Grove, Wavertree.

The Harrisons had been on a rehousing list for about 18 years when the opportunity arose to move to the new Speke housing estate.

Harrison continued to go to Dovedale Primary School, which was also attended by Lennon - although they were unaware of each other due to the two-and-a-half year age gap.

Lennon's skiffle group The Quarrymen rehearsed at 25 Upton Green when he, Harrison and fellow member Paul McCartney were teenagers.

The band eventually evolved into The Beatles, the name the members adopted in 1960.

PA Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George HarrisonPA
George Harrison rehearsed with John Lennon and Paul McCartney at his family home, before Ringo Starr joined the band

The mid-terrace house was last on the market seven years ago, when it was bought by a Beatles fan for £156,000.

Although there have been renovations, the house retains some original features, including the bath, sink, doors and outbuildings, Mr Fairweather said.

"George will have learned to play the guitar in this house and the photos of the group gathering there in the early 1960s are amazing to see."

He said he was expecting the imminent release of The Beatles: Get Back documentary by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson to generate more interest in the sale, adding there was an option to apply for a blue heritage plaque for the property.

In 1965, Harrison bought his parents a bungalow in Appleton, near Warrington, with some of the profits of his international success as a Beatle.

After the band's break-up in 1970, he continued to compose and perform and produced films with the Monty Python comedians.

Harrison died of cancer at the age of 58 in 2001.

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