Dungeon Lane sign restored after McCartney album news

Thomas Berringtonand
Jonny Humphries,North West
BBC A road sign installed on a patch of rough grass reads 'City of Liverpool' in red lettering above 'Dungeon Lane' in black lettering - both against a white background.BBC
Tourists visiting the Speke road name-checked in Sir Paul McCartney's upcoming album had been "really disappointed"

Signposts for the road name-checked in Sir Paul McCartney's upcoming studio album have been restored following a request from local tour guides.

Tourists have been flocking to Dungeon Lane in the Speke area of Liverpool since the 83-year-old Beatle announced his upcoming album, titled The Boys of Dungeon Lane, in March.

Described as an ode to the post-war Liverpool where McCartney spent his childhood, news of the album was accompanied with the release of lead single Days We Left Behind.

Beatles tour operators who added the road to their itineraries found their guests were "really disappointed" not to find any signs for a photo opportunity.

Last week Liverpool Council restored the signs in response to the request from the Liverpool City Region Tourist Guides Association.

Jackie Spencer, a Liverpool-based Blue Badge accredited Beatles tour guide, told the BBC fans began making pilgrimages to Dungeon Lane as soon as McCartney spoke about spending time there during his childhood.

Getty Images Paul McCartney raises his hand into the air during a concert at the O2 Arena in December 2024Getty Images
The musician has sold more than 500 million albums over the course of his career

She said: "People are going with expectations to see something and there's very little there.

"Us guides, we started taking people there and recognised their disappointment and so we managed to get in touch with the council who agreed to replace the signs."

When McCartney announced the album, fans looking it up on Google Street View were greeted with a young boy, wearing a 1950s-style school uniform, holding a fake road sign reading "The Boys of Dungeon Lane".

"It's wonderful that we've got a brand new one there as well," Spencer said.

The Boys Of Dungeon Lane will be the star's 19th solo album, in a recording career that spans 63 years.

It is due for release on 29 May.

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