Back to index of Nerve 14 - Summer 2009

Twitchers' I-Spy
Where are these birds found in Liverpool?

By Eddie Roberts

Answers:

1. St John's eagle on the font in St Nick's church. This was adopted by King John for his seal and appears on our Charter. It carries an olive twig, whereas the Liver bird carries seaweed. The word 'Lever' means both seaweed and a baptismal font. Has artistic licence created a myth?
2. Tommy Steele's wonderful statue of Eleanor Rigby feeding a robin is on Stanley Street. He sold it to the Council for 'Half-a-Sixpence'.
3. H. Tyson Smith's elegant Liver bird stands proudly over the city's motto on the south end of the Cenotaph in front of St George's Hall.
4. This overlooked Liver bird overlooks St Nick's gardens from Harrisons' Mersey Chambers, thus predates the Pier Head pair by fifty years.
5. This eponymous bird has a 12' wingspan designed by Carl Bernard Bartles; however, the Royal Liver Friendly Society takes its name from the Liver Inn at Waterloo where it was instigated. Canada Boulevard honours those allies who fought in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II.
6. A golden goose outside the tavern of that name by the Victoria Monument in Derby Square.
7. Tracey Emin’s little bird on a pole supposedly inspired by a Roman Standard affronts The Oratory (Greek Doric Temple). Emblematic of rip-off art?
8. Sean Rice has two intricate sculptures in the Thistle Atlantic Tower Hotel on Chapel St. These gulls are from 'The Spirit of the Atlantic' in the rear courtyard; the other, in the foyer, is of diving cormorants.
9. Eagle-and-child of the Stanley crest at root of 16th Earl of Derby's memorial in Anglican Cathedral; designed by architect Giles Scott.
10. A pert Liver bird perched on a cotton-bale (symbolic of city's wealth) beside 'Ms.Liverpool' atop the Walker Art Gallery. (1875)
11. A Bald (golden) Eagle on America's very first consulate (1790); James Maury then moved from Paradise St. to Rodney St. Became Eagle pub.
12. The only 'Flying' Liver bird I know of. Weather vane above L.I.P.A.
13. One of 4 'imperial' eagles by G.Anderson Lawson on the corners of pedestal to Wellington's column. Completed c1865.
14. Two rampant black birds support Hope University's shield. They are more heraldic than ornithologically correct cormorants cf. Town coat of arms.(1797)

Highly recommend David Cottrell's 'The Little Book of Liver Birds'(ISBN 1-85983-547-3), The Birds of Lancashire and North Merseyside' edited by Steve White, Barry McCarthy and Maurice Jones (ISBN 978-1-872839-11-0)

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Comments:

Comment left by Stan Jankowski on 21st July, 2010 at 0:18
Dear Mr Roberts Just to say there is a liver bird weathervane in germany, which I made for a client see www.panjankowski.co.uk Regards Stan

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