Joseph Henry Bridgeman
Born 1870
Died 24 February 1951
Active: 1881 - 1951
Country of birth and death: England
Architectural sculptor, ecclesiastical sculptor, stone carver and stonemason
Born in Cambridge. He was the son of Robert Bridgeman (1845-1918), the founder of a multi-generational firm of architectural and ecclesiastical sculptors based in Lichfield. It is assumed that Joseph learned his craft from his father. Before 1912 the family firm became Robert Bridgeman & Son. Joseph's son, Charles William Bridgeman (1902-2004) later joined the business which then traded as Bridgeman & Sons of Lichfield until his retirement in 1968, when it was sold to Linfords and operated as Linford-Bridgeman.
The firm produced pieces for churches, cathedrals, schools and other historic buildings, as well as doing conservation and restoration work. Their major commissions includes the Gothic façade of the John Rylands Library, Deansgate, Manchester and restoration work on the west front of Lichfield Cathedral during the 1880s as well as pieces in St Philip’s Cathedral and St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham and sculptures in most other cathedrals in England. In addition, their works can be seen in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Italy.
Wealth at death: £11,312 15s. 6d.
Probate date: 25 May 1951
Locations
Address Dam Street Lichfield | View on map
1881 (Circa)
Address The Dock Alrewas | View on map
1891 (Circa)
Lodging at this address
Address 21 St John Street Lichfield | View on map
1901 (Circa)
'Carver & Draper' employer working at home
Address 8 Dam Street Lichfield | View on map
1911 (Circa)
Address Quonians House Dam Street Lichfield | View on map
1951
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Stonemason' worker
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Carver & Draper' employer working at home
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Sculptor And Church Furnisher' employer and his son Robert George Bridgeman (born c.1894 in Lichfield) 'Wood Carver'
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
Class: RG11; Piece: 2772; Folio: 49; Page: 18; GSU roll: 1341664
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
RG12 piece 2216 folio 101 page 29
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2001
Class: RG13; Piece: 2654; Folio: 21; Page: 5
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2009
RG14PN16860 RG78PN1044 RD367 SD1 ED2 SN16
England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2007
2007
Name: Joseph H Bridgeman
Birth Date: abt 1871
Date of Registration: Mar 1951
Age at Death: 80
Registration district: Lichfield
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume: 9b
Page: 341
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: Joseph Henry Bridgeman
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1870
Registration district: Cambridge
Inferred County: Cambridgeshire
Volume: 3b
Page: 493
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Joseph Henry Bridgeman
Probate Date: 25 May 1951
Death Date: 24 Feb 1951
Death Place: Lichfield
Registry: Birmingham, England
Citing this record
'Joseph Henry Bridgeman', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=ann_1394816639, accessed 18 May 2022]