The Good Samaritan - a bronze statue near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

The Good Samaritan is a bronze statue presented to Selly Oak Hospital in 1963. Following the closure of the hospital, it was relocated in 2014 near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.


Where is The Good Samaritan?

The Good Samaritan is near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham on a path towards the University of Birmingham. Birmingham, B15 2QZ

 

In brief

A bronze statue of a pair of nude men, made in 1961 by the sculptor Uli Nimptsch. It was originally presented to Selly Oak Hospital in 1963, and for decades was outside of the Outpatients Department in a garden near Oak Tree Lane. But when the hospital closed, and relocated to the new Birmingham Super Hospital in 2010 (to be named Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham), it was later relocated to a path near the QEHB in 2014 (this path leads to the University of Birmingham, past the site of Metchley Roman Fort).

The Good SamaritanThe Good Samaritan from the path near Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (August 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

The Good Samarian - details

 

On one side of the stone plinth is this inscription:

Compassion. This statue was commissioned and presented to Selly Oak Hospital by the Charles Henry Foyle Trust on the suggestion of one of the original trustees, the late Sir Albert Bradbeer, 1963.

The Good SamaritanThe Good Samaritan in the garden outside the Selly Oak Hospital Outpatients Department (March 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

On the other side of the stone plinth is this inscription, from a poem by James Kirkup:


With proper grace forming a correct compassion, that performs it's love and makes it live. James Kirkup

The Good SamaritanThe Good Samaritan in the garden outside the Selly Oak Hospital Outpatients Department (March 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

It also has the sculptors name on one side:

Uli Nimptsch A.R.A. Sculptor

The Good SamaritanThe Good Samaritan in the garden outside the Selly Oak Hospital Outpatients Department (March 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Original location

The bronze statue was near Oak Tree Lane in the garden that was outside of the Outpatients Department of Selly Oak Hospital from 1963 until at least 2012. The hospital closed for good in 2010, when the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham was opened, and the site redeveloped for housing.

The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan

The Good SamaritanThe Good Samaritan in the garden outside the Selly Oak Hospital Outpatients Department (March 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The statue was still visible in the former garden of the Selly Oak Hospital Outpatients Department from Oak Tree Lane in 2012. It had been removed before 2014.

The Good SamaritanThe Good Samaritan in the garden outside the former Selly Oak Hospital Outpatients Department (January 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

New location

If walking from the University of Birmingham (West Gate near University Station), there is now a path that goes past the site of Metchley Roman Fort, towards the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. At the end of the path is The Good Samaritan statue, which was restored and cleaned before it moved to this site in 2014.

The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan

The Good SamaritanThe Good Samaritan from the path near Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (August 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

Project dates

13 Apr 2022 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Health & wellbeing, Art; Culture & creativity

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Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com