The Great Hall Window Heraldic Shield No.10 - The University of Birmingham - Edgbaston, Birmingham, U.K. - Coats of Arms on Waymarking.com

One of the heraldic shields in the stained-glass window of the Great Hall in the Aston Webb building of the University of Birmingham.

The south window was designed by Thomas Ralph Spence (1855-1913) and was installed 1908. There are 53 lights in all, focusing on the arms of the University itself, with the shields of the Midland counties above it, so that, as elsewhere, the decorative motifs "expressed the conviction that there was a symbiosis between the University and the region". Benefactors' arms are shown as well. (visit link)

This light of the window displays a shield representing the arms of Sir John Charles Holder, 1st Baronet (1838-1923) the Birmingham brewing magnate. (visit link)

Sir John took over the family’s eponymous brewing business from his father in 1870. (visit link)

The shield features a gules escutcheon with 3 Chevronels Argent which unfortunately given the position of the light in the window and the position of the window in the Great Hall make identifying all the features of the arms difficult to discerned from the body of the hall.

The Dexter Chief displays a small white (Argent) shield which contains what is known as the 'red hand of Ulster' (Irish: Lámh Dhearg Uladh). This is usually shown as a right hand, but barons such as the Holder are permitted to use the left (sinister) hand.

The window is 'flanked by massive organ pipes and fine woodwork of the original organ cases...A late insertion, this was donated by Sir John Holder in May 1907...T.R. Spence designed the window and it has fifty-three light. The focus, as with the north front, is the University shield. Above it, in the spandrels, we find shields of the six Midland counties on either side of a full achievement of the arms of the City of Birmingham. The window, in other words, takes up the theme of civic commitment to the Midlands University announced by the entrance front, and this was emphasised by a display of county banners down the hall on either side. The other central lights speak of private support: at the top the Calthorpe arms and Sir John Holder's own shield at the bottom, below a woman holding
the Chamberlain crest.' 'The First Civic University: Birmingham 1880-1980, An Introductory History' by Eric Ives, Diane Drummond, Leonard Schwarz (ISBN: 1-902459-07-5)

Bearer of Coat of Arms: Noble (aristocratic) family Full name of the bearer: Sir John Charles Holder, 1st Baronet (1838–1923) Where is Coat of Arms installed (short description) ?: The south window of the Great Hall in the Aston Webb building at the University of Birmingham. Material / Design: Glass (painted / stained) Address: The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom. Blazon (heraldic description): Not listed Web page about the structure where is Coat of Arms installed (if exists): Not listed Web page about the bearer of Coat of Arms (if exists): Not listed

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Date Logged Log   06/19/2019 Poole/Freeman visited it