John Lennon lived at the home of his Aunt Mimi, 'Mendips', at 251, Menlove Avenue from the age of five after his parents separated in 1945. He lived there until 1959, when he moved in with art school friends, Stuart Sutcliffe and Rod Murray in Gambier Terrace, although he still returned to Mendips most days to have his laundry done, or to eat his dinner.


'Mendips' witnessed John Lennon's formative years and it was here that he learned to play the guitar, attracting scorn from his Aunt Mimi who famously told him "The guitar's all very well as a hobby John, but you'll never make a living out of it..." Paul McCartney was a frequent visitor to the house in Menlove Avenue and they were often banished to the porch to rehearse when the noise became too much for Mimi.

Research suggests that this street sign dates from between 1930 and the late 1950s. 'Mendips' is now run as a historic property by the National Trust having been purchased and donated to them by Yoko Ono.