William Bird

William Bird or Byrd (1624–c.1691) was a 17th century English sculptor. He seems to have served Oxford University for many decades as their official mason. His most notable work is the covered arch linking the two sections of New College, Oxford, raised over the centre of the carriageway to allow laden haycarts to pass. For reason of social convention of the day he was classified as a master craftsman rather than as an artist, despite his considerable skill, the term artist being served mainly for painters in the upper classes creating free-standing pieces. Also in the convention of that time he received very poor payment for his work, which would have been at the same rate as other craftsmen, such as a blacksmith shoeing a horse. Life Bird was born in May 1624 in St Nicholas' Parish in Gloucester and baptised in that church on 1 June 1624. He was the son of William Byrd of Hallywell or Holywell (d.1657) also a mason. He appears related by marriage to the London mason, Robert White, whose son was christened Simon Byrd White. Around 1638 he was apprenticed to Walter Nicholls of Gloucester, becoming time-served after 8 years. He set up his own business around 1645 and from 1647 was mainly working in Oxford. Mason work was not in demand during the English Civil War and it seems possible (or even probable) that he took some part in the war in the 1640s on the Royalist side. His stoneyard was located between Wadham College and All Souls College. Christopher Wren attended both and attended this part of Oxford from 1651 to 1657. In his traversing of the city Wren must have certainly encountered, if not befriended, William Bird, and the two went on to collaborate on several projects of national importance.