William Bloye

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title: "William Bloye" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1890-births", "1975-deaths", "20th-century-english-sculptors", "20th-century-english-male-artists", "artists-from-birmingham,-west-midlands", "british-architectural-sculptors", "english-male-sculptors", "english-modern-sculptors", "people-from-small-heath,-birmingham", "members-and-associates-of-the-royal-birmingham-society-of-artists", "british-letter-cutters", "fellows-of-the-royal-british-society-of-sculptors", "alumni-of-the-birmingham-school-of-art", "academics-of-the-birmingham-school-of-art", "british-army-personnel-of-world-war-i", "royal-army-medical-corps-soldiers"] description: "English sculptor (1890–1975)" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bloye" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary English sculptor (1890–1975) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox artist"]

Field	Value
name	William Bloye
birth_name	William James Bloye
birth_date	8 July 1890
birth_place	Birmingham, England
death_date
death_place	Arezzo, Italy
field	Sculpture
awards
::

| name = William Bloye | image = | imagesize = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = William James Bloye | birth_date = 8 July 1890 | birth_place = Birmingham, England | death_date = | death_place = Arezzo, Italy | nationality = | field = Sculpture | training = | movement = | works = | patrons = | influenced = | awards =

William James Bloye (8 July 1890 – 6 June 1975) was an English sculptor, active in Birmingham either side of World War II. After serving in World War I, Bloye studied and later taught at the Birmingham School of Art. Becoming a member of the Birmingham Civic Society in 1925, he played a significant role as Birmingham's unofficial civic sculptor, contributing to various public commissions. Bloye was a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, attaining the status of fellow in 1938. His association with the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) included serving as its president from 1948 to 1950 and as the Professor of Sculpture. He retired in 1956 and died away in 1975.

Life

Bloye studied, and later, taught at the Birmingham School of Art (his training was interrupted by World War I, when he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1915 to 1917; he was eventually succeeded at Birmingham by John Bridgeman), where his pupils included Gordon Herickx, Roy Kitchin, Raymond Mason, John Poole and Ian Walters. He also studied stone-carving and letter cutting under Eric Gill around 1921.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/William_Bloye_blue_plaque.jpg" caption="Blue plaque at Golden Hillock Road"] ::

In 1925 Bloye became a member of the Birmingham Civic Society, having, at about that time, a studio at 111, Golden Hillock Road, Small Heath, Birmingham. As Birmingham's unofficial civic sculptor he worked on virtually all public commissions including libraries, hospitals and the University. He often carved bas-relief plaques, typically for public houses in Birmingham, and decorated a number of buildings by the architect Holland W. Hobbiss. During the 1920s, he served on the Technical Committee of the Birmingham Civic Society.

Bloye became a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors: associate (with the honorific suffix ARBS) in 1934, and fellow (FRBS) in 1938. He also won the latter's Otto Beit Medal. Retiring from the School of Art in 1956 he moved to Solihull. He died in Arezzo, Italy in 1975.

In December 2010, a blue plaque was unveiled at City College, on the site of his former studio.

As of January 2010, Birmingham City Council are working on the restoration of Bloye's statue of Pan at Aston Hall. The statue's head is missing, and they have appealed for old photographs to assist in its reconstruction.

Royal Birmingham Society of Artists

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/William_Bloye_autograph.jpg" caption="William Bloye's entry in the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists members' register; in his own hand. Dated 1930" alt="William J Bloye, 111 Golden Hillock Rd, Small Heath, sculptor"] ::

Bloye was closely associated with the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. Although the two 1919 bronze plaques at the RBSA entrance are the earliest known work by Bloye in Birmingham, he became a member only in 1930. After a period as vice-president, he became president in 1948 and served in that role until 1950. He was also the RBSA's Professor of Sculpture from the mid-1940s until at least 1961 (after which time the post is no longer mentioned in the annual catalogues).

The Society's permanent collection includes one of his works, a life-size plaster bust, Head of Man. It is undated and not usually on display. The subject's name is not recorded.

Selected public works

1919

| image = Birmingham Feeny Art Gallery Bloy.jpg | subject = Allegories of Art and Industry | location = Above north-west door of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (The Feeney Gallery extension), Great Charles Street | date = c. | material = Stone | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = Birmingham City Council | notes = | image = William Bloye RBSA Coat of Arms.jpg | subject = Bronze Plaques | location = Royal Birmingham Society of Artists | date = | material = Bronze | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Formerly at the Society's old headquarters on New Street

1920–1929

| image = Supreme Works 186 Soho Hill - Bloye - Lion Pediment lions.jpg | commonscat = Bloye reliefs on Supreme Works, Birmingham | subject = Lion Pediment and Seated Craftsmen | location = Supreme Works, 186 Soho Hill, Handsworth | date = | type = Bas-relief | material = Stone | coordinates = | notes = | image = Carnegie Welfare Institure - Sculpture Maternity - Bloye.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Maternity | location = Carnegie Welfare Institute, Hunter's Road, Hockley | date = c. 1923–6 | type = | material = Painted mahogany | designation = | coordinates = | notes = | image = Bloye Hall of Memory - Call - Frontline - Return.jpg | subject = Call, Front Line and Return | location = Hall of Memory, Broad Street | date = | type = Interior bas-relief carvings | material = | coordinates = | notes = | image = Bloye sculptures on Sun Insurance building, Bennetts Hill, Birmingham 84.JPG | commonscat = Bloye sculptures on Sun Insurance Building, Bennetts Hill | subject = Sun and lettering | location = Sun Insurance Building, Bennetts Hill | date = 1927 | type = Bas-relief | material = Stone | designation = | coordinates = | notes = | image = Bloye Fox and Hollybush sculpture.jpg | subject = Fox and Hollybush | location = Acocks Green | date = –8 | type = Bas-relief | material = | coordinates = | notes = From former Fox Hollies pub. Now on Lidl supermarket | image = Dudley Council House.jpg | subject = Coat of arms and two lion reliefs | location = Council House, Priory Road, Dudley | date = | type = | material = | coordinates = | notes = Façade on Council House | image = Bloye Dudley George and the Dragon and flagpoles.jpg | subject = War Memorial: George and the Dragon and lions on flagpoles | location = Town Hall, Priory Street, Dudley | date = | type = | material = | coordinates = | notes = Also four bronze lions (1936) on flagpoles, Town Hall tower | image = Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium Bloye stag 94.jpg | subject = Running stag | location = Perry Barr Stadium | date = | type = Bas-relief | material = Stone | coordinates = | notes = Logo of Birchfield Harriers. Attributed. | image = The Antelope, Sparkhill.jpg | subject = The Antelope | location = Sparkhill | date = c. | type = Bas-relief pub sign | material = | coordinates = | notes = Designed by Bloye, sculpted by his assistant, Tom Wright | image = | subject = Allegory of Painting | location = Former Art Gallery, Avenue Road, Leamington Spa | date = | type = | material = Sandstone | coordinates = | notes = Life-size female nude

1930–1940

| image = Aesculapius on Birmingham Chest Clinic.jpg | subject = Aesculapius | location = Chest Clinic, Great Charles Street | date = 1930 | type = Relief carving | material = Stone | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes =

| image = William Bloye - Golden Eagle pub sign - 2025-11-12 - Andy Mabbett.jpg | subject = Golden Eagle | location = Hill Street, Birmingham | date = c. 1930 | type = Relief sculpture | material = Metal | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes =Now displayed at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

| image = L&G Assurance Building 7 Waterloo Street - Bloye Wisdom 561.jpg | subject = Wisdom, Fortitude, Charity, Faith | location = Legal and General Assurance Building, 7 Waterloo Street | date = | type = Four bas relief panels | material = | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Exterior high level bas-relief carvings. | commonscat = Bloye sculptures on Legal and General Assurance Building 7 Waterloo Street | image = Bournville St Francis William Bloye tympanum.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Sermon to the Birds | location = St Francis of Assisi's Church, Bournville | date = 1933 | type = | material = Oak | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Part of Grade II listed building. | image = Aston Hall Pan Piper 1989 (cropped).jpg | subject = Pan | location = Aston Hall, Birmingham | date = | type = | material = | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = Bloye vase at Aston Hall.JPG | subject = Two stone vases | location = Aston Hall, Birmingham | date = | type = Vases | material = Stone | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = Birmingham City Council | notes = | image = Perry Common Library Bloye 73.jpg | commonscat = Bloye sculptures on Perry Common Library | subject = Lamp of Knowledge | location = Perry Common Library | date = c. | type = Bas-relief | material = stone | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = Brookvale Pub sign - Bloye.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Brookvale Pub | location = Erdington | date = 1934 | type = Pub sign with putto and grapes | material = Painted stone | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = Bloye Dudley columns and heads.jpg | subject = Capitals and Heads | location = Council House, Priory Road, Dudley | date = | type = | material = | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = | subject = Dudley from the Wren's Nest | location = Council House, Priory Road, Dudley | date = | type = Two reliefs | material = Plaster | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Within building – at entrance to council chamber and entrance to committee reception room | image = New Oxford House 16 Waterloo Street - Bloye capital 507.JPG | subject = Capitals and pediment sculptures | location = New Oxford House, 16 Waterloo Street | date = | type = | material = | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Exterior: two capitals, shield above door and upstairs pediment and putto | commonscat = Bloye sculptures on New Oxford House 16 Waterloo Street | image = Bloye Dudleys Past.jpg | subject = Dudley's Past | location = Town Hall, corner of Priory Road and Priory Street, Dudley | date = | type = | material = | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = Bloye - Mother and Child + Young Child Playing.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Mother and Child, Young Child Playing | location = 90 Lancaster Street, Birmingham | date = c. 1935 | type = Bas-relief | material = Stone | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = Christ Church, Burney Lane, Birmingham - Bloye - Latin Cross.jpg | commonscat = | subject = The Good Shepherd and Latin Cross | location = Christ Church, Ward End | date = c. 1935 | type = Bas-relief | material = Stone | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates =
| owner = | notes = | image = Art deco carving by William Bloye (doorway to the Royal Oak Public House, Lozells, Birmingham, England).jpg | subject = Royal Oak | location = Lozells | date = c. 1936 | type = | material = Stone | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Decoration around the doorway of a former pub (now a shop). Formerly brightly painted | image = The Towers pub sign front of pub.jpg | subject = The Towers | location = Tower Hill, Great Barr | date = 1936 | type = | material = Stone | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Bloye was responsible for all the stone carving on this brick building. | image = | subject = St. Nicholas Rescuing the Three Children | location = John Shelton School, Coventry (former) | date = 1936 | type = | material = | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Lost after the school was demolished in 1999 | image = Yardley Wood Library Bloye 10.jpg | commonscat = Bloye sculptures on Yardley Wood Library | subject = Spirit of Knowledge | location = Yardley Wood Library | date = c. 1936 | type = Bas-relief | material = stone | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = The Bear, Sparkhill crop.jpg | subject = Bear and Staff | location = The Bear Inn, Stratford Road, Sparkhill | date = c. 1937 | type = Bas-relief | material = | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Pub sign, depicting symbol of Warwickshire, in which the area was located at the time of installation. By September 2022 the Bear sculpture has been covered over by a new restaurant to be called Chai Green. | image = William Bloye - Boars Head.JPG | subject = The Boar's Head | location = The Boar's Head, Perry Barr | date = c. 1938 | type = | material = Wood | dimensions = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Painted pub sign with model of a boar's head, on a pole. Taken from the arms of the Gough-Calthorpe family of nearby Perry Hall | image = Yardley Library doorway Bloye.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Library Emblem | location = Yardley Library, Yardley | date = 1938 | type = | material = | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates =
| owner = | notes = | image = Aesculapius on University of Birmingham Medical School - Bloye.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Aesculapius | location = Medical School, University of Birmingham | date = c. 1938 | type = | material = | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = Bloye Apollo statue Dudley.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Apollo fountain | location = Coronation Gardens, Ednam Road, Dudley | date = 1939 | type = Sculpture on top of fountain | material = | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = The model was international gymnast and basketball player Fred Starkey. The plaster models are in the collection of Birmingham Museums Trust. | image = Huntsman and Dog on the Green Man pub - Bloye - facing right.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Huntsman and Dog | location = The Green Man Pub, High Street, Harborne | date = c. 1940 | type = Pub sign | material = Painted wood | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes =

1950–1959

| image = Victoria Statue in Victoria Square Birmingham.jpg | commonscat = Statue of Queen Victoria, Birmingham | subject = Queen Victoria | location = Victoria Square | date = 1951 | type = Statue on pedestal | material = Bronze and stone | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = Birmingham City Council | notes = Recast from a 1901 marble statue by Thomas Brock | image = Statue of Christ on All Saints church, Coneyford Road, Shard End, Birmingham - Bloye.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Christ | location = All Saints' Church, Shard End | date = 1951–5 | type = Statue in niche | material = Stone | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = Josiah Mason - geograph.org.uk - 13861.jpg | commonscat = Josiah Mason bust - William Bloye after Francis John Williamson | subject = Josiah Mason | location = Junction of Chester Road & Orphanage Road, Erdington | date = 1952 | type = Bust on plinth | material = Bronze | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Cast from a 1885 marble statue (subsequently destroyed) by Francis John Williamson, which stood opposite Mason Science College in Edmund Street | image = Bloye University of Birmingham Mechanical Engineering bas relief.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Engineering | location = Mechanical Engineering Building, University of Birmingham | date = 1954 | type = Bas-relief | material = | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = Boulton, Watt and Murdoch.jpg | commonscat = Statue of Boulton, Watt and Murdoch, Birmingham | subject = Boulton, Watt and Murdoch | location = Broad Street | date = | type = Three statues on plinth | material = Gilded bronze | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = Birmingham City Council | notes = Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch | image = Skirrow.jpg | commonscat = | subject = John Skirrow Wright | location = Birmingham Council House | date = 1956 | type = Bust | material = Bronze | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Cast from a marble statue (subsequently destroyed) by Francis John Williamson | image = Bloye sculpture of St Alphage on Infant School Solihull.jpg | commonscat = | subject = St. Alphege | location = St. Alphege CofE Infants School, New Road, Solihull | date = 1959 | type = | material = | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Restored in 1994

1960–1974

| image = Bloye BUGS mermaid, bronze.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Mermaid fountain | location = University of Birmingham Guild of Students | date = 1960 | type = Fountain | material = Bronze | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = Bloye BUGS mermaid, stone.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Mermaid | location = University of Birmingham Guild of Students | date = 1960 | type = Wall mounted sculpture | material = Stone | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = The Mermaid, Sparkhill.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Decoration | location = The Mermaid (public house), Sparkhill | date = c. 1960 | type = | material = | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Bas-relief pub sign attributed to Alan Bridgewater. Now missing (since 2012) after two fires and the roof was rebuilt. Now a venue here called Farro's. | image = StatueFostersMillCambridge.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Ceres – Goddess of Corn | location = CB1, Mill Park, Cambridge | date = 1962 | type = Sculpture | material = Bronze and concrete | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = | commonscat = | subject = Wilfred Byng Kenrick | location = Byng Kenrick Grammar School For Girls | date = 1962, unveiled 1963 | type = Bust | material = Bronze | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = Lost, believed stolen. | image = Bloye shield on Fountain Court, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham set.JPG | commonscat = Bloye sculptures at Fountain Court Building, Steelhouse Lane | subject = Heraldic sculptures | location = Fountain Court, Steelhouse Lane | date = 1964 | type = Bas-reliefs | material = Stone | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = A bronze statue of a girl in a fountain in a private courtyard at the same location is by Bloye. | image = Birmingham Dental Hospital Coat of Arms.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Coat of Arms | location = Birmingham Dental Hospital | date = c. 1973 | type = | material = Fibreglass | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates =
| owner = | notes = Now removed.

Date unknown

| image = Bloye - Head of Man.jpg | commonscat = | subject = Head of Man | location = Royal Birmingham Society of Artists | date = | type = | material = Plaster | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes = | image = Moseley School ceiling panels 83.jpg | commonscat = Moseley School assembly hall ceiling panels | subject = Ten ceiling panels | location = Old Assembly Hall, Moseley School | date = | type = | material = | dimensions = | designation = | coordinates = | owner = | notes =

References

References

1. "William James Bloye ARBS". University of Glasgow History of Art.
2. (December 2010). "Life of Birmingham sculptor William Bloye commemorated". City College.
3. "Ornamental Fountain". Public Monument and Sculpture Association.
4. Anon. (1930). "The Spring Exhibition, 1930 (catalogue)". RBSA.
5. Anon. (1948). "Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Autumn Exhibition 1948 (catalogue)". RBSA.
6. Anon. (1961). "The Second Spring Exhibition, 1961 (catalogue)". RBSA.
7. RBSA catalogues, 1962 onwards
8. RBSA archives, catalogue number B43
9. Noszlopy, George T.. (2005). "Public Sculpture of Staffordshire and the Black Country". Liverpool University Press.
10. Noszlopy, George T.. (2003). "Public Sculpture of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull". Liverpool University Press.
11. (17 January 2011). "The mystery of the headless statue". [[Birmingham City Council]].
12. Anisah Vasta. (8 September 2022). "Iconic Sparkhill pub The Bear to be transformed into 60 seater South Asian restaurant 'Chai Green'". [[Birmingham Mail]].
13. Noszlopy, George T.. (1998). "Public Sculpture of Birmingham including Sutton Coldfield". Liverpool University Press.
14. Anon. (2 April 2001). "Former city man tribute". [[Birmingham Mail.
15. Accession numbers: 1991P111; 1991P112
16. (2000). "A User's Guide to Public Sculpture". English Heritage / PMSA.
17. "Trail 1 – South Cambridge".
18. [http://www.moseleians.co.uk/index2.asp?id=126&bid=P28&Title=William_Bloye The Moseleians Association – Moseley School and the work of William Bloye (1890–1975)]

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