The Birmingham Man - sitting statue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square

The Birmingham Man is a 1993 bronze sitting statue of the first Birmingham MP, Thomas Attwood sculpted by Sioban Coppinger & Fiona Peever. Soapbox with pages on the steps.


Public art: Statue of Thomas Attwood 

Designer: Sioban Coppinger & Fiona Peever

Thomas Attwood was a banker and economist who founded the Birmingham Political Union in 1830. The bronze sculpture was donated to the city in 1993 by Thomas Attwood’s great great granddaughter Mrs Patricia Mitchell.  There is a soapbox and pages on the steps with the words "Reform", "The Vote" and "The Prosperity". It was in storage between 2015 and 2020 during the phase 1 redevelopment for Paradise Birmingham. It's alternate name is Birmingham Man.

Where? On steps in Chamberlain Square, close to Two Chamberlain Square and Birmingham Town Hall

Birmingham Man

Birmingham Man

Birmingham ManPhotography by Daniel Sturley

 

 

Thomas Attwood - details

Thomas Attwood was elected to be Birmingham's first member of Parliament in 1832 following his successful campaign to introduce the Great Reform Act. The act brought democratic representation to the newly industrialised towns of the North of England and Midlands for the first time.

Thomas Attwood at Birmingham History GalleriesPortrait of Thomas Attwood, MP for Birmingham. At the Birmingham History Galleries, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (November 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Thomas Attwood: Birmingham's first Member of Parliament

 

Thomas Attwood, 1859 statue by Peter Hollins

The original 1859 statue by Peter Hollins had been in Calthorpe Park, and later in Sparkbrook, but was heavily vandalised by 2008, before it was moved to the Birmingham Museum Collection Centre (where it remains unrestored today).

Thomas Attwood statue BMCC fullThomas Attwood statue at the Birmingham Museum Collection Centre (September 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The 1993 statue of Thomas Attwood

The 1993 statue by Sioban Coppinger and Fiona Peever was actually the second statue of Thomas Attwood in Birmingham.

A page in his hands reads 'Prosperity Restored'.

Thomas AttwoodStatue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square (May 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

On the steps

Near the Attwood statue, on the steps is three words: 'Prosperity', 'The Vote' and 'Reform'.

Thomas AttwoodStatue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square (May 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Soapbox and pages

Nearby is a Soapbox with bronze pages. These read: 'Demand for Change', 'The Remedy' and 'Votes for All'.

Thomas AttwoodStatue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square (May 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 


The pages further away read: 'Full Employment' and 'Free Trade'.

Thomas AttwoodStatue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square (May 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Plaque

The artwork included this plaque. Which reads: Thomas Attwood 1783-1856. Birmingham's first Member of Parliament. By Sioban Coppinger & Fiona Peever 1993. Presented to the City by Mrs Priscilla Mitchell.  'Possunt Quia Posse Videntur'

Thomas AttwoodStatue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square (May 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Return in 2020

The statue and all the other objects belonging to this Thomas Attwood statue went into storage in 2015, before the demolition of Birmingham Central Library. They were eventually returned to Chamberlain Square in 2020, after the completion of One and Two Chamberlain Square, as well as the new square layout.

The statue was moved to storage in November 2015, and later returned in July 2020.

Thomas AttwoodStatue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square (July 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Chamberlain Square was fully reopened by Autumn 2020, but at the end of the summer, you couldn't access the area where the statue had returned.

Thomas AttwoodStatue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square (August 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Soapbox and bronze pages returned too.

Thomas AttwoodStatue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square (August 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

2021 was the first full year of Chamberlain Square being fully open since at least 2015, so you could get quite close to the statue of Thomas Attwood.

Thomas AttwoodStatue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Thomas Attwood statue after dark.

Thomas AttwoodStatue of Thomas Attwood in Chamberlain Square (November 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

Project dates

17 Nov 2022 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Art; Culture & creativity

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com