One of Liverpool’s oldest Liver Birds has been carefully removed from its rooftop home at Mersey Chambers ahead of a major restoration.
The Victorian bird, commonly known as the ‘Third Liver Bird’ or ‘Mother Bird’, has stood on top of the Grade II listed building in Old Churchyard since 1878.
Looking out across Liverpool Parish Church and the River Mersey, the historic bird is believed to pre-date the famous pair which have watched over the city from the Royal Liver Building since 1911.
After almost 150 years exposed to the elements, the bird has suffered weather damage and has now been taken down so specialist restoration work can be carried out.
The delicate operation saw Liverpool-based John Sutch Cranes use a Böcker AK 46/6000 truck-mounted crane to remove the 60kg bird from the rooftop.
Working from the narrow street below, the team coordinated with riggers on the roof and in a cherry picker to secure the Liver Bird before carefully lowering it to street level, watched by onlookers and tourists.
A piece of Liverpool history
Mersey Chambers has its own significant place in Liverpool’s maritime history. The building was originally constructed for the Harrison shipping line, once one of the city’s most important shipping companies.
It was acquired by Acorn Group in 2016 and is now home to almost 200 members of staff.
Danny Keating, chief operating officer at Acorn Group, said:
“I’ve always wanted to restore this building and bring it back to life, while improving it at the same time. There’s a bit more soul to what we do than simply owning glass office buildings.
“Looking after these buildings and making people proud of them is part of who we are.”
Acorn Group’s Liverpool property portfolio also includes 12 Hanover Street and the former John Lewis building in the city centre. Last year, the company also acquired the Grade I listed Atlantic Pavilion at Royal Albert Dock.
For the removal of the Liver Bird, Acorn turned to John Sutch Cranes, which has operated in Liverpool for almost four decades.
Mr Keating added:
“Everyone working on this project is local. Supporting local businesses has always been part of our strategy, and John Sutch has been involved with us for a while on this one.”
Precision operation to remove Liver Bird
Mick Turner, technical sales representative at John Sutch Cranes, who arranged the lift, explained that the location presented a number of challenges.
He said:
“Old Churchyard is a tight spot, with the church gardens on one side, a scaffolded building on the other and people working on the roof above us.
“We chose the Böcker because it could set up in that space, and every step was planned with the riggers before we lifted.
“With a piece of the city’s history on the hook, there’s no room for surprises. Everything has to be planned with precision and credit to the team, they delivered a brilliant job and a great result for our client.”
Hayley Sutch, designate managing director of John Sutch Cranes, said the unusual job was particularly meaningful for the Liverpool company.
She said:
“Liverpool is our home town. We’ve been operating in this city for nearly 40 years, so being trusted with one of its Liver Birds means a great deal to everyone at John Sutch Cranes.
“Acorn has worked with us for a few years now, and it’s a proud moment to play our part in looking after a building like Mersey Chambers. We’re already looking forward to being there when she goes back up.”
The Mother Liver Bird is expected to return to its familiar rooftop perch in the new year once restoration work has been completed.
