The Joseph Sturge memorial is a memorial to the English Quaker,

abolitionist Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people. The British ...

and activist

Joseph Sturge Joseph Sturge (1793 – 14 May 1859) was an English Quaker, abolitionist and activist. He founded the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society (now Anti-Slavery International). He worked throughout his life in Radical political actions suppo ...

(1793–1859) was unveiled before a crowd of 12,000 people on 4 June 1862 at Five Ways, Birmingham, England, near his former home. The statue has been grade II listed since 8 June 1982. Standing at the boundary between

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...

and

Edgbaston Edgbaston () is an affluent suburban area of central Birmingham, England, historically in Warwickshire, and curved around the southwest of the city centre. In the 19th century, the area was under the control of the Gough-Calthorpe family a ...

, it was sculpted by John Thomas, whom Sir Charles Barry had employed as stone and wood carver on the former King Edward's Grammar School at Five Ways. He died before completing the memorial, which cost £1000. Some time around 1975, the figure of Sturge's left hand fell off.The source says "right hand", but images clearly show the left hand missing; the right hand is on the bible, so not detachable Sturge is posed as if he were teaching, with his right hand resting on a

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...

to indicate his strong Christian faith. He wears a lapel-less coat of a style favoured by contemporary Quakers. Lower on the

plinth A pedestal (from French ''piédestal'', Italian ''piedistallo'' 'foot of a stall') or plinth is a support at the bottom of a statue, vase, column, or certain altars. Smaller pedestals, especially if round in shape, may be called socles. In ...

, he is flanked by two female

allegorical As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory t ...

figures: one representing Peace holds a dove and an olive branch, with a lamb at her feet, symbolic of innocence; and the other, Charity, offers comfort and succour to two Afro-Caribbean infants, recalling the fight and victory over

slavery Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

. Around the crown of the plinth are inscribed the words "Charity, Temperance and Peace" (the word "Temperance" is on a gadrooned basin, which used to dispense drinking water), as well as Sturge's name and his date of death. The figures and pedestal (still the original) are in Portland stone. In 1925 the monument was moved a short distance, to its current position, and a bronze plaque was affixed to the memorial to tell passers-by more about its subject. The inscription reads (all in capitals; punctuation added for readability): In 2006–2007 the

Birmingham Civic Society Birmingham Civic Society is a voluntary body in Birmingham, England, and is registered with the Civic Trust. History The society was founded at an inaugural meeting on 10 June 1918 in the Birmingham Council House. The first president of the ...

Birmingham City Council Birmingham City Council is the local government body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local council area in the United Kingdom ...

, and the Sturge family restored the statue for the 200th anniversary of the

Slave Trade Act Slave Trade Act is a stock short title used for legislation in the United Kingdom and the United States that relates to the slave trade. The "See also" section lists other Slave Acts, laws, and international conventions which developed the conce ...

of 1807. This included the provision of a replacement for the missing hand. On 24 March 2007, the city held a civic ceremony to formally rededicate the statue. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, councillor Mike Sharpe, unveiled a new interpretation board giving details of Sturge's life. The work is now in the care of Birmingham City Council.

Gallery

File:Sturge plaque.jpg, The plaque inscription File:The Statue of Joseph Sturge at Five ways, Edgbaston.jpg, The restored statue of Joseph Sturge on 24 March 2007 File:The Rededication of the Joseph Sturge statue at Five Ways, Edgbaston - 24th March 2007.jpg, Stephen Hartland of The Birmingham Civic Society spoke at the re-dedication in 2007

References

External links

{{coord, 52.472225, -1.9192543, region:GB-BIR_type:landmark, display=title Grade II listed buildings in Birmingham Grade II listed monuments and memorials Edgbaston Monuments and memorials in Birmingham, West Midlands Sculptures in Birmingham, West Midlands Sculptures of men in the United Kingdom Statues in England