About The StatueA life-size statue of William Shakespeare the English Poet, dramatist, and actor above the entrance to the Great Hall of the University of Birmingham is one of 9 great men of the arts and science/engineering whose statues adorn the entrance.
That William Shakespeare qualified for the central position seem very appropriate given he is probably the greatest name in world of literature, an Englishman and a Midlander, however for a long tine in the planning phase King Edward VII was considered the frontrunner for this position.
Shakespeare's statue along with the other eight figures was carved by Henry Pegram, and together personify the Joseph Chamberlain’s vision for the University’. Joseph Chamberlain was the University’s first Chancellor and had a vision of ‘a school of universal instruction, not confined to any particular branch of knowledge but taking in its province. These guardians watch over those who pass beneath reminding all that the University is an integral part of a living international academic and cultural tradition.’ (
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The statue of Shakespeare is carved from Darley Dale stone and is actual life-sized. In the statue Shakespeare who is in period dress, is shown standing his right hand across chest his left hand resting on a talbe or stand which is with a cloth. He is bare headed but has a beard typical of the Elisabethian period.
Below is an extract from "The Victorian Web" website which describes the 9 Statues as follows:
"Nine cultural icons in a "Pantheon of the Immortals" Foster/Dungawell 243) carved over the entrance to the University of Birmingham's Great Hall. Henry Alfred Pegram (1862-1937). 1907. Life-size statues in Darley Dale stone. Chancellor's Court, the University of Birmingham, Edgbaston."
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William Shakespeare"William Shakespeare, Shakespeare also spelled Shakespeare, byname Bard of Avon or Swan of Avon, (Baptised April 26, 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England - died April 23, 1616, Strafford-upon-Avon), English Poet, dramatist, and actor often called the English national poet and considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time." (
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Here are some of the facts about Shakespeare's life and work:
- Born 1564, died 1616
- Wrote about two plays every year for 20 years
- Was married and had three children
- Wrote 37 plays and lots of poetry
- His longest play, Hamlet, has 4,042 lines
- His complete works contain 884, 647 words
- Was famous for playing with words - he invented more than 1,700
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Shakespeare’s plays fall into the following groups:
- Comedies including 'All Well That Ends Well', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'Much Ado About Nothing';
- Histories including 'Henry V' and 'Richard III';
- Tragedies including 'Hamlet', 'Romeo and Juliet' and perhaps the lesser known 'Coriolanus'; and
- Romances including 'The Tempest' and 'The Winter's Tale'.
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