I grew up in the 70’s listening to the music of the Beatles being played on my father’s Lenco turntable.
Among these was Penny Lane which depicted the road and neighbourhood that John, Paul, George and Ringo grew up in.
The sights, sounds and characters were particularly familiar to Paul McCartney who used to meet John Lennon here to catch a bus into Liverpool. McCartney wrote this timeless masterpiece that was released in 1967, and continues to perform it on tour.
Fifty years on, much has changed in the Mossley Hill district where this mile long road is located. But realising the historical significance and tourism potential of the places mentioned in the song, the local council and community have taken time and care to maintain the significant spots.
These include the now disused bus shelter in the middle of the roundabout, the Allerton Community Fire Station that was closed a few years ago, and Bioletti’s barber shop, now known as Tony Slavin’s Salon.
Me and my tour guide & Beatles historian – the husband Terence FernandezPenny Lane sign near the roundabout. You don’t need to walk the full mile to see the landmarks as they are all located centrally in this spotHere are the landmarks in sequence of their appearance in the song. Have fun on your trip down Penny Lane and you will realise you can’t help but sing along! (Video below)
PENNY LANE by the Beatles
In Penny Lane there is a barber showing photographs, of every head he’s had the pleasure to have known, and all the people that come and go, stop and say hello …
Bioletti’s barber shop is now a hair saloon. It maintained the original exterior though
On the corner is a banker with a motorcar,
The little children laugh at him behind his back,
And the banker never wears a mac,
In the pouring rain, very strange …
What is now TSB bank on the far left of this picture was this banker’s office
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes,
There beneath the blue suburban skies I sit,
And meanwhile back in Penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass,
And in his pocket is a portrait of the queen,
He likes to keep his fire engine clean,
It’s a clean machine …
The Allerton Community Fire House still stands but is no longer operational due to budget cuts. It is located along Mather Avenue (opposite Tesco) about 10 minutes walk from the old bus station & roundabout along Penny LaneThe Allerton Community Fire House
The crest above the door of the old fire house
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes,
A four of fish and finger pies in summer,
Meanwhile back behind the shelter in the middle of the roundabout,
The pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray,
And though she feels as if she’s in a play,
She is anyway …
The old bus shelter in the roundabout where according to the song teenagers would go to have “four of five finger pies”. It’s not lunch, it’s making out
In Penny Lane the barber shaves another customer,
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim, And then the fireman rushes in from the pouring rain, very strange …
Penny lane is in my ears and in my eyes There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit, and meanwhile back … Penny lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies Penny Lane …
Bonus on Penny Lane – Dovedale Towers where Freddie Mercury lived in the late 60s when he was performing gigs in Liverpool and preparing for world domination as QueenHow to get to Penny Lane from Liverpool One Station:
Hop on Bus number 75, 80, 80E, 86, 86A and 86C. Tickets will be between £1 to £2. But if you are travelling in a party of two or more – an Uber ride from Liverpool which costs between £5 to £8 would make more sense.
Below is a music video of Penny Lane and some of the landmarks mentioned in the song – as it looked like 50 years ago:
