Priestley’s Statue

Priestley is one of the handful of Birmingham intelligentsia whose statues feature in the square in the heart of town, strategically (although not any more, as it’s moved…) in front of the Central Library.
Mr Priestley (scientist & political reformist) is a little high up on his plinth to be appreciated properly, I fear. It’s ironic as he is largely celebrated for discovering oxygen — I’m not sure if he gets any up there…
He looks ever so erudite and learned with his scientific paraphernalia, but the bronze is started to oxidise a bit (oh the irony, again…) and turn slightly green. Poor Mr Priestley also seems to be a bit of a target for bird poo, which makes him look a little less dignified somehow. Of course, to cast an entire statue in bronze is impressive, and it looks like a fine, realistic representation. Its just a bit out of the line of vision and starting to look a little weathered now.

When Birmingham descended into civil disobedience last summer this 18^th Century Brummie luminary, watching from his plinth in Chamberlain Square, must have thought it was so passé.
Priestley’s statue is neater than Watt’s next door, and remembers the hard-​at-​work scientist rather than choosing to portray the liberal revolutionary that Priestly also was. Joseph Priestly is rendered here holding scientific equipment, which would eventually lead to him discovering oxygen. However, as you gaze up at this conservatively rendered bronze, don’t forget Priestly was also a radical whose beliefs and alleged support for revolutionary politics incited riots on the city’s streets in the 1700s. As the mob burnt down Priestly’s home in Sparkbrook (de ja vu), the liberal fled to New York never to return. Though the city has marked the man since, it is the perhaps the parts of his life that they have chosen to gloss over that make Priestly such an appealing figure.

Priestley’s statue should be screamingly advertising Birmingham as being the place where Oxygen was discovered, but unfortunately in my opinion, it does not. Few and far between realise that Joseph was the brains behind uncovering what we breathe in 1774; and I think this is where the problem lies within our Brummie statue.
The Joseph Priestley monument blends in too much with the surrounding areas and figures, so I can see how visiting members of the public (and Brummies) are unaware of its existence, unless they’ve done some background knowledge prior to travelling to England’s second city. The statue is too dark, and placed high up on a plinth. Although this does prevent the statue from damage, If Joseph was to be placed in or around Birmingham naturally (like the Thomas Attwood statue is sitting on the steps), then maybe more people would interact and learn about Priestley’s scientific findings.
Birmingham needs to be prouder of it’s accomplishments, and the great people that have lived/​worked here, including Priestley, AND the entire Lunar Society for that matter!