Rose Sidgwick Memorial Birdbath

Artist: Unknown maker
Date: c.1921
Medium: Reconstituted stone and lead
University Collections
Accession number: BIRRC-A0355
Location: University House/Business School garden

Rose Sidgwick is an important figure in the history of pioneering women at the University of Birmingham and in higher education more broadly. She was a lecturer in History at the University in the early decades of the 20th century and, working closely with Margery Fry, supported the first women’s halls of residence at University House. In 1918, Sidgwick was invited as part of a delegation of universities to America and there helped found the International Federation of University Women. This marked a ground-breaking step in the recognition of women’s education. It was during this trip that she tragically succumbed to Spanish influenza. This birdbath was installed in her memory in 1921 and the area has recently been redeveloped to incorporate a rose garden.

Visual description

This is a lead birdbath in a pale yellow-toned stone stand and is set in the centre of a pale stone paved area surrounded by grass and flower beds which feature roses. The outer stone edge of the stand has a repeating undulating u-shaped design. The central lead birdbath has moulded edging and a flat outer area which dips into a deeper fluted recess at the centre which is shaped to resemble a flower. On the flat outer edging is inscribed ‘Rose Sedgewick (sic) January 1877- December 1918’.