Childhood Home Of Beatles' Ringo Starr To Be Demolished
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Ringo Starr's childhood home will be demolished (Creative Commons)
Liverpool City Council recently approved plans to demolish 271 homes known as ‘damp slums’ in order to clear the way for newer, nicer homes to be built. One of the ‘slums’ is the home in which Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr, lived until he was four years old. Consequently, there has been a significant controversy regarding the demolition.
After many years of lobbying, residents of the area known as “the Welsh Streets” (formerly known as Madryn Street) finally persuaded City Council earlier today to replace the homes—most of which were built in the late 19th century—with modern homes.
Liverpool City Council leader said of residents: “They want and deserve decent, modern homes with gardens and space for a car,” acknowledging that the debate over whether to preserve or demolish “the Welsh Streets” homes has gone on far too long.
Those opposed to the demolition, however, have argued that the area not only has potential tourist value to Beatles fans, but also has historical value as most of the homes were built by Welsh immigrants coming to work on the docks in the late 19th century.
Phillip Coppell, who heads the Save Madryn Street campain says that "it is an important part of the heritage trail". He and other Save Madryn Street members assert their belief that the entirity of the Welsh Streets area should be preserved, not just Ringo Starr's former home.
Despite Liverpool City Council's recent verdict, activists of the Save Madryn Street campaign remain optomistic, because as Coppell says, "demolition is not a foregone conclusion."
Reach reporter Whitney Tolar here.
