The Hotel

This impressive Georgian building houses 54 en-suite bedrooms. Our onsite facilities include the residents bar and hotel restaurant, as well as a public house at the front of the site

Our History

Originally Devonshire House formed a seminary run by nuns of the Immaculate Conception. The original buildings, built in 1856, are now the Public House situated at the front of the site and Holly House where the executive bedrooms, the lounge bar and Reception can be found. The whole site was enclosed in a walled garden, some of which still stands. A statue of "Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception" can still be seen today carved into the East gable of the Public House.

One of the students at the seminary was the young Emma Holt, heiress to the Holt shipping fortune. After being refused by an Oxbridge College due to a limited number of places for women, Emma set about to form her own ladies university. She approached four wealthy Liverpool families (Melly, Herdman, Rathbone and Derby) and together with the Holts they purchased these buildings and formed a ladies only college affiliated to Liverpool University. The University had degree awarding powers. The seminary moved to Old Swan, where it remains today.

In the early 20th century The Holly House Ladies College was given its own degree awarding powers. To commemorate the first three degrees awarded from the college, in 1906, three Holly trees were planted called the three sisters. The trees are to your right as you walk down the steps from Reception.

In 1963 Holly House Ladies College became part of Liverpool University and these buildings formed halls of residence. Initially they were for ladies only but in the 70’s they became mixed. In 1988 they were transferred to John Moore's University.

Devonshire House acquired the buildings in 1995 and converted them to their present form.