Chamberlain Memorial, Gothic memorial fountain in Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, England
Chamberlain Memorial is a Gothic fountain made of Portland stone standing in the centre of Chamberlain Square in Birmingham, England. It features a tall spire, gilded mosaic panels, copper decorative details, and a portrait medallion on its south side, with shallow water pools surrounding the base.
The memorial was built in 1880, funded by public donations to honour Joseph Chamberlain's time as mayor of Birmingham. During his tenure, he pushed through major reforms in the city, including the redevelopment of the city centre and improvements to public services.
The memorial takes its name from Joseph Chamberlain, who served as mayor and transformed the city in the late 19th century. Visitors who stop close to the structure can make out the gilded mosaic panels and the portrait medallion on its south face.
The memorial stands in the open at the centre of Chamberlain Square and can be approached from any direction at any time of day. It sits close to other public buildings in the city centre, making it easy to include in a short walk around the area.
The Portland stone spire was thoroughly cleaned in 1994, bringing back fine decorative details that had been hidden under layers of dirt for decades. The process revealed that the original stone is noticeably lighter in colour than many visitors had assumed from older photographs.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
