Last night, a spokesman for Yoko Ono said of the closure: "The Salvation Army, as a matter of courtesy, let Yoko know that the three children currently housed in Strawberry Field will be well looked after when it closes.
"As someone who donated Mendips, the house John grew up in, to the National Trust, Yoko is very aware of the importance these buildings have in all our memories but respects the decision of the Salvation Army to put the welfare of the children first and close their building."
In 1984, Strawberry Field was threatened with closure due to a fall in roll numbers.
It was saved, however, and that same year Yoko Ono visited the home with John's son, Sean Lennon, and handed over more than £80,000 to the Salvation Army to continue its work.
Many other Liverpudlians have followed in Lennon's footsteps by attending the home's famous annual garden parties.
Four years ago, the distinctive gates to the property were stolen, only to be found in a scrapyard.
A year later, to mark the 60th anniversary of Lennon's birth, a playground was opened at Strawberry Field.
Liverpool Capital of Culture chairman Sir Bob Scott said last night: "I think everything to do with the Beatles needs to be treasured and thought about very carefully.
"Several people need to put their heads together, including us here at Capital of Culture, about what the sensible response to the announcement should be.
"It is not a time for instant sentimental decisions, but equally the future of the site is not simply a matter for the market place."
The Salvation Army could be sitting on a development goldmine - but getting planning permission would be another story >>
