Strawberry Field gates have returned to public display in its native Liverpool.
The former children’s home in Woolton cemented its place in music history when it spawned The Beatles’ No.2 chart hit of the same name in February 1967.
But the structure was placed into storage in 2011 due to Fab Four fans writing their names on the gates, which were moved for preservation purposes.
To coincide with 50th anniversary of legendary Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, the original gates have been displayed for the first time since.
The Salvation Army, owners of the historic site, has temporarily donated the gates over to The Beatles Story at the city’s Albert Dock for public display.
John Lennon spent large parts of his childhood at the Beaconsfield Road site, which will receive donations from visitors to the museum for its new project.
Plans to build a new training and learning centre for young people with learning difficulties as part of an £8 million overhaul of the iconic location.
Martin King, of The Beatles Story, said: “We are delighted to join forces with The Salvation Army to showcase the original Strawberry Field gates to our visitors.
“They are a real piece of Beatles’ history, and it’s a privilege to display such a special exhibit here at The Beatles Story.
“We welcome over a quarter of a million visitors per year, from over 80 countries worldwide and we hope that by displaying the gates here it will help raise funds and awareness for this project to enable them to ‘open the gates’ once again.”
Major Drew McCombe, Divisional Leader for The Salvation Army, added: “Strawberry Field has a very special history, both for its connection to John Lennon and the song Strawberry Fields Forever, and for its history as a place for solace for Liverpool’s most vulnerable people.
“By joining with The Beatles Story to exhibit the iconic, original Strawberry Field gates, we hope to raise awareness of the exciting plans we have to reinvigorate the Strawberry Field site, as well as giving Beatles fans the opportunity to see a slice of Fab Four history.”