(1822-1913)
Huddersfield Library and Art Gallery, Huddersfield
I google women statues in the UK and get lost in sites, articles and blogs. Then I come across the Public Statues and Sculptures Association site pssauk.org. There, I find a list of all the 128 women in the UK with photos (mostly), brief descriptions of the figures, the artist and where they are situated. Boom. Who knew it would be that easy. All that is left for me to do is to log who they are and where they are so I can create a schedule of visits. I have my favourite method of data collection – spreadsheets, and I go about breaking the statues in to regions of the UK simply as:
Scotland and NI – an impressive list!
North West
North East
Wales and South West
Midlands
South East
London
It just takes a few hours and I marvel at technology.
Sadly, Leeds is lacking a female (non-royal) statue, but West Yorkshire has a few gems so I start heading a little southward. The Harriet Tubman memorial was commissioned by Kirklees Council and unveiled on 1st October 2013 to mark Black History Month and the centenary of her death. Tubman was an abolitionist and political activist. An escaped slave, she was instrumental in the US Underground Railroad which offered hundreds of slaves a passage to safety.
I arrange to meet my friend Nic who lives in Huddersfield and relish talking about my endeavour, (despite early days) and generally catching up. It would be great if all statue visits could be accompanied with a good natter and a pitstop at (sadly) the now defunct Humpit Hummus Café.
WomenstatuesUK 