The liver bird is a mythical creature which is the symbol of the city of Liverpool and can be seen on the clock towers of the Royal Liver Building located on Canada Boulevard at Pier Head overlooking the River Mersey in Liverpool.
"The Liver Bird is a symbolic mythical creature which has been a Liverpool icon for over 800 years.
The Liver Bird appears in coats of arms, on tops of building and has even been made into souvenirs.
The tradition of the Liver Bird dates back to 1229, when King Henry III gave his permission for the people of Liverpool to be self-governing, through trade guilds. This necessitated the creation of a unique seal, which was used to authenticate documents and this seal featured an image of a bird. A wax impression of it from 1352 still exists.
Further evidence of the Liver Bird has been found from 1611, when the Mayor ordered the production of silver tableware which featured a bird like a Cormorant, designed specifically to be used in Coats of Arms.
In 1668 Charles Stanley, the eighth Earl of Derby, presented the town with a silver mace, engraved with the arms of the town. This featured a bird described as a ‘Leaver’, thought to be an ancient name for the Spoonbill or Shoveller Duck. In 1797 the College of Heralds approved the design of a new coat of arms using the Cormorant, and to this day the bird remains on Liverpool’s Coat of Arms.
The Liver Bird appears on the masthead of the Liverpool Echo, and takes pride of place on the logo of Liverpool Football Club.
It was also used as the logo of Liverpool’s 800th birthday celebrations in 2007." SOURCE: (
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"Probably the most famous Liver Birds of all are the two that are standing atop the Royal Liver Building clock towers.
The metal birds were created 1911 by sculptor Carl Bernard Bartels. The two birds named Bella and Bertie measure 18ft, and are positioned facing away from each other. The male, Bertie looks over the city and the female, Bella looks to the sea, each carries a sprig of seaweed in its beak.
Legend has it that the male looks over the city and protects the people of Liverpool, whilst the female keeps an eye out for the seamen to return safely home.
Another popular story told about them is that they are chained down, for if they were to fly away the River Mersey would burst its banks and flood the city of Liverpool.
The Royal Liver Building was the purpose-built home of the Royal Liver Assurance group, which had been set up in the city in 1850 to provide locals with assistance related to losing a wage-earning relative.
It was designed by Walter Aubrey Thomas, the foundation stone was laid on 11th May 1908 and the building was officially opened by Lord Sheffield 3 years later, on 19th July 1911.
It was one of the first buildings in the world to be built using reinforced concrete.
The building stands at 98.2 m (322 ft) tall to the top of the spires, 103.7 metres (340feet) to the top of the birds and 50.9 m (167 ft) to the main roof.
The Royal Liver Building is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city of Liverpool with its two fabled Liver Birds which watch over the city and the sea. Legend has it that if these two birds were to fly away, the city would cease to exist.
The Liver Birds are 5.5 metres,18 feet high. Their added height gives the Royal Liver Building an overall height of 103.7 metres, 340 feet.
The building of skyscraper proportion has 13 floors and was once one of the tallest buildings in the country, and is currently the 4th tallest building in Liverpool."
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