Where is the Charles Blondin - Welcome to Ladywood sculpture?
The Charles Blondin - Welcome to Ladywood is on Ladywood Middleway opposite St Vincent Street West
In brief
In 1992-93 the sculptor Paul Richardson made a statue of the French tightrope walker Charles Blondin (1824 - 1897) who on the 6th September 1873, Blondin crossed a tightrope on Edgbaston Reservoir in Ladywood, Birmingham. This statue commemorates that event, and says 'Welcome to Ladywood'.
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Charles Blondin - Welcome to Ladywood (October 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown
Blondin - Art UK
A caricatural image of the famous stuntman, derived from Richardson's interest in cartoon imagery and satirical artists such as John Heartfield and George Grosz. It now carries a sign directing people to the shopping centre which is on the other side of the road. This statue was commissioned as part of Ladywood Regeneration Project which began in 1990. Charles Blondin, the nineteenth century French stuntman, was internationally famous for stunts including crossing Niagara Falls on a tightrope. His connection to Birmingham is that on 6th September 1873, he tight-rope walked across the Edgbaston reservoir. There is a story which claims that the 10,000 foot long rope was not tight enough and during the crossing the rope sagged so low that Blondin had to cross part of the way underwater.
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Charles Blondin - Welcome to Ladywood (October 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown
There is a view from the Charles Blondin - Welcome to Ladywood statue on Ladywood Middleway towards The Bank and The Mercian buildings.
Charles Blondin - Welcome to Ladywood (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown
If coming from St Vincent Street West, this would be your view to the Charles Blondin statue.
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Charles Blondin - Welcome to Ladywood (August 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown