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

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 12 Dec 2019]