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The property where Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney first learned to play the guitar is going under the hammer this month.
43 Elswick Street, Liverpool, is the former home of Ian James, a childhood friend of Sir Paul.
The musician has remembered first holding a guitar and learning his first chords at the house, while it is also known he spent time listening to the rock and roll records that ignited his passion for music there.
This connection is well documented by Sir Paul himself. In a letter regarding the guitar used at the house, he wrote: “The above guitar, belonging to my old school pal Ian James, was the first guitar I ever held, it was also the guitar on which I learned my first chords in his house at 43 Elswick Street, Liverpool 8.”
The guitar was subsequently sold by Mr James for £330,000 in 2006, with Sir Paul providing his written provenance for the instrument.
The house is being offered with an estimate of £150,000 – £170,000.
It is to be sold by Merseyside-based music specialist auctioneers Omega Auctions, which has previously sold properties connected to the Beatles including the house of John Lennon’s mother Julia.
George Harrison’s former childhood home, where the Fab Four held some of their first rehearsals, went under the hammer back in 2014, having been purchased by a Beatles fan for £156,000.
43 Elswick Street is a two-bedroom mid-terrace home located in Liverpool’s Dingle area.
The property comes with an enclosed porch leading into the living room, a kitchen, a downstairs WC and access to a shared rear alleyway, which is currently used for bin storage.
Dan Muscatelli-Hampson, director of operations and consignments at Omega Auctions, said of the sale: “We have a great track record of selling properties around Liverpool connected to the Beatles and I’m sure we’ll see similar interest in this historic house.
“Beyond the important link to Paul McCartney – it’s a super property in a very up and coming part of the city.”
The auction is set to finish on 26 October at 1pm.
