For decades, a charming tale has circulated about a famous Liverpool donkey named Judy who supposedly opened the Royal Liver Building in 1911 by chewing through a ribbon coated in peanut butter. The story has become so ingrained in local folklore that Google's AI Gemini even repeats it as fact. But is there any truth behind this beloved myth?
The Legend of Judy the Donkey
Judy the Donkey was a well-known figure in Toxteth, Liverpool, so cherished that two newspapers reported her death in 1926. A memorial funded by the community was erected in her honor in Princes Park. Laura Prior, chair of the Friends of Princes Park, told the ECHO: "Judy was well-loved and very famous in Liverpool. The story is that they wanted to get someone well-known to open the Liver Building, and they got Judy. The ribbon was covered in peanut butter and she chewed through it."
Investigating the Claim
Shannon Baines, a guide for the Royal Liver Building 360 Tour for two years, first heard the Judy story during her first month on the job. She told the ECHO: "Unfortunately, we would say that it’s probably more of an urban myth." Shannon points to details like the use of peanut butter as evidence of embellishment, noting that peanut butter was not widely imported to Britain until the 1930s, decades after the building's opening.
Contemporary newspaper coverage of the building's opening in 1911 makes no mention of Judy. The event was a formal affair where Lord Sheffield, a shareholder, officially opened the building. A photograph from the Liverpool Evening Express shows Lord Sheffield performing the ceremony, with no donkey in sight. The ECHO correspondent focused on technical details like the speed and capacity of the lifts, not a donkey.
Judy's Possible Presence
Despite the lack of evidence, Shannon believes Judy may have been present at the opening. She said: "I don’t think she opened the building herself, but I think she probably was here because there are enough eyewitness reports to suggest that she was. We did even try looking into the archives of the ECHO to see if she was there on the day, but we couldn't find anything, unfortunately." The opening itself was surprisingly low-key, with the architect shunning recognition.
Other Tales of Judy
Judy is also credited with saving teenagers from drowning in Princes Park lake and being a regular at Ye Hole in Ye Wall, one of Liverpool's oldest pubs. Stephen Hoy, the pub's landlord, recalled: "Judy used to come in and would drink pints of Guinness or stout, and there would be arguments about whose turn it was to buy her next drink. Sometimes she would drink so much she’d have to be walked home rather than ridden." Lisa Kelly, a staff member, added: "When I was a girl, I used to go all the time with my mum and we would put flowers on the grave."
Celebrating Judy's Legacy
On August 9, the Friends of Princes Park will host a celebration marking 100 years since Judy's death, featuring donkey rides and Park Palace ponies. Laura Prior emphasized the park's importance: "Her grave is so famous that it’s on Google Maps. The park is massively important to the people of Toxteth. Having somewhere clean, tidy, accessible, and inclusive is so important."
While the story of Judy opening the Royal Liver Building may be a myth, her place in Liverpool's heart remains undeniable.
