The history of the Hanover Hotel

First developed in the l8th century, Hanover Street soon became an important commercial area serving the vibrant Georgian city of Liverpool. 62 Hanover Street was built as a bank by William Morris and the original banking hall can still be identified. The building later became a hotel and has remained such for more than 130 years. The hotel is adjacent to the city's main shopping areas, including Mathew Street and five minutes walk from Albert Dock.

The White Horse of Hanover

The origins of the White Horse of Hanover can be traced back to the 8th century. Widukind or Wittekind was the Duke of Saxony around 750 ad. It is said he changed from riding a black horse to a white horse on his conversion to Christianity and this led to the depiction of the white horse on the flags of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony in Germany, the same emblem later to appear on the coats-of-arms of Hanover and Prussia, amongst others.

The position of the Duke of Saxony became one of the most influential in Europe - one of the seven Electors men who selected the Holy Roman Emperor. Over time the number of Electors was increased and in 1692 the Elector of Hanover became the ninth.

In 1714 the British Queen Anne (Stuart) died without heir and she was succeeded by George (I), then Elector of Hanover. Britain continued to be ruled by Hanoverian kings until 1815 and by then our Royal Arms had been changed to include the arms of Hanover which depicted the white horse.
By the reign of Queen Victoria and the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha the white horse had been dropped from the Royal Arms, but because the Hanoverian kings had also been commanders-in- chief of the British army, the white horse had become widely used as a military emblem. It was formally granted by King George I in 1751 to the 8th of Foot, a Liverpool battalion of the King's Regiment and remains on their cap badge today.