Chamberlain Square

Chamberlain Square or Chamberlain Place is a public square in central Birmingham, England, named after statesman and notable mayor of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain. The Victorian square was drastically remodelled in the 1970s, with most of the Victorian buildings demolished and the construction of the Brutalist Central Library. The square is currently closed to the public and under development as part of the Paradise scheme.

The square in July 2016

Its features include:

Statues and monuments
  • Chamberlain Memorial - In honour of the public service Joseph Chamberlain gave to the city of Birmingham, the memorial fountain was unveiled in his presence on 10 October 1880 as the centrepiece of the new public square. The 20 metres (66 ft) high memorial was designed by John Henry Chamberlain (no relation).

and statues of:

The statue of James Watt was originally located on Paradise Street next to the Town Hall. The Joseph Priestley statue was originally located in Victoria Square (then called Council House Square).

The sweeping curve of the steps of the library forms an amphitheatre, and so the square is used for public events.

The annual Birmingham Christmas Craft Fair is held in Chamberlain Square from the 3rd Friday in November to the 23rd of December. The event began as "Winterval" in 1997/8 (20 November – 31 December[1]), with the intention of attracting business into Birmingham's newly rejuvenated city centre.

Chamberlain Square was the original site of Birmingham's BBC Big Screen, where it was situated until September 2007.[2]

Paradise Circus Development

As part of the Paradise Circus development by Argent Group the square will be re-landscaped. In 2014 landscape architects, Grant Associates were awarded the contract to design the new public realm.[3]

  • Chamberlain Memorial
  • Joseph Priestley
  • James Watt
  • Thomas Attwood, empty plinth, and scattered bronze pages on steps
  • Chamberlain Square in 1886
  • The square prior to development

Sources
  1. Birmingham City Council 'Winterval' brochure
  2. "Big Screen". BBC Birmingham. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  3. "Future for Paradise Circus becomes clear at MIPIM 2014". Birmingham Post. Birmingham. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.

Further reading
  • Pevsner Architectural Guides - Birmingham, Andy Foster, 2005, ISBN 0-300-10731-5


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