CHAMBERLAIN SQUARE THROUGH TIME
CHAMBERLAIN Square was first laid out in 1840, following the opening of the Town Hall in 1834. It was originally home to Mason College (forerunner of the University of Birmingham) and the Reference Library (forerunner to the former
Central Library and current Library of Birmingham).
The Chamberlain Memorial (designed by John Henry Chamberlain – no relation) was revealed on October 10, 1880 to honour the life of Joseph Chamberlain – ex Liberal MP and mayor of the city.
Peter Marsh, Chamberlain’s biographer, writes: “Under his guidance Birmingham was known as the best-governed city in the industrial world. Although he had his critics, the thinking then was if you could carry Birmingham you could carry the country – the city had huge national prominence.”
A public appeal in 1880 contributed £3,000 (£375,000 in today’s money) towards the total cost of the Gothic-style memorial. Venetian firm Salviatai Burke & Co created the mosaics on each face of the memorial.
The statue of former Birmingham MP, reformer and human rights activist Thomas Attwood has also been reinstalled in the new-look square, on the steps close to the Town Hall.
Further pieces of the same installation including a crate (or soap box) and sheaves of paper that spell out aspects of Attwood’s political agenda, along with the words ‘Reform’, ‘The Vote’ and ‘Prosperity for all’ are stencilled into the square’s southern steps. The statue was designed by sculptor Sioban Coppinger and the lettering designed by letterer Fiona Peever.
Further statues due to be returned to Paradise include those of scientist Joseph
Priestley and industrialist James Watt, both of whom overlooked the previous iteration of the square. These statues are being incorporated into the public realm as part of Phase Two of the development.