William Bird (sculptor)

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.

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.

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.

He presented his work to Kong Charles II on his visit to Oxford and to Cosmo, Prince of Tuscany in 1669.

[3] Despite his considerable skill, Bird typifies the under-valued tradesmen of his day and was only paid £2 per account for his magnificent work on the Sheldonian Theatre.

Wren by comparison (not to belittle his clear talent) would receive several hundred pounds per account for the same period.

From 1679 Thomas Wood was independent but was brought in to help on projects including much of the work on the Ashmolean Museum on Bird's behalf.