Sir Josiah Mason
(1795-1881)

Sir Josiah Mason 1795 - 1881

Central Library, Congreve Passage, Birmingham, United Kingdom where they was

Alexander Parkes 1813-1890 Inventor of the first plastic, worked on this site for Elkington, Mason & Company, electroplaters, circa 1840-1850

Old Elkington Works, 144 Newhall Street, Birmingham, United Kingdom where they worked

Here stood Sir Josiah Mason's Science College, later Mason University College, the nucleus of the University of Birmingham. It was founded upon the wealth and vision of Josiah Mason, a Kidderminster carpet weaver's son who had prospered by the manufacture of split rings and steel pens. He laid the first stone on his 80th birthday, 23rd February 1875. The College became the University upon the grant of a Royal Charter in 1900, and the building continued to accommodate the Faculties of Arts and Law until shortly before its demolition in 1963.

Below Josiah Mason plaque - former Central Library, Birmingham, United Kingdom where they laid the stone (1875)