Uncategorized – Page 9 – WomenstatuesUK

Ada Salter

(1866-1942)

Leaving behind a comfortable life, Ada headed to London to work in the city slums as a Methodist ‘Sister of the People’. She married Alfred Salter in 1900 and both became Quakers, labouring in dire conditions to bring food supplies to hungry families, improve living standards and protect workers’ rights. Ada was the first woman councillor in Bermondsey in 1909 and went on to be elected as president of the Women’s Labour League in 1914.

In 1922, the same year that Alfred became MP, Ada became the first woman mayor in London. Both worked tirelessly to bring safer, cleaner health practices to the district. This included Ada’s vision of green spaces for people to improve health and wellbeing in the heart of some of the most polluted areas of the city.

The three statues, entitled, ‘Doctor Salter’s Daydream’ captures a happy moment for the family: Ada, Alfred and their daughter Joyce. Tragically, their only child caught scarlet fever at the age of 8, a disease that spread around the slums where her parents fought so hard to improve people’s lives.

Joan Littlewood

(1914-2002)
Theatre Royal, Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN

Born and raised in London, Joan had seen early stage performances and was left disappointed by the seemingly privileged world of theatre. Moving to Manchester, she met Jimmie Miller (later named Ewan MacColl) and they set up a hub of playwriting that included hard hitting themes often not covered on a public level. In 1941, she was banned from the BBC for her alleged extreme communist views and for fear of broadcasting her dangerous ideas to the nation. MI5 observed her for almost two decades.

Lauded as the founder of modern young people’s theatre, Joan arrived at the Theatre Royal with her Workshop Company in 1953, getting children from the streets in Stratford involved in drama. She continued staging productions with social issues at the heart, notably Shelagh Delaney’s, ‘A Taste of Honey’ in 1958 and 1963’s, ‘Oh What a Lovely War!’

The bronze statue, called ‘The Mother of Modern Theatre’ is based on an iconic 1970’s photograph of Joan sitting on rubble in almost exactly this location where the Theatre was threatened with demolition.

Mary Wollstonecraft

(1759-1797)
Newington Green, Islington, London

If anyone knows any female statue in the UK, it is probably this one.

Dedicated ‘for’ Mary Wollstonecraft rather than a depiction of her, the statue has caused great controversy, portraying a naked female figure emerging from a swirling mingle of female forms. The plinth is etched with Mary’s famous words, “I do not wish women to have power over men but over themselves”. But enough of the nudey scandal, over to you Mary….. Largely self-educated, Mary’s relatively short life was far from conventional. She was passionate about education for women, culminating in her most famous work, ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ (1792) – widely viewed as the foundation of early feminism, outlining that woman should be treated – big gasp – equal to men.

Mary involved herself with a group of radical thinkers and writers based in Newington Green including William Godwin whom she later married when pregnant. However, 11 days after the birth of her daughter, she died, presumably from sepsis. Her daughter went on to become a writer. You will know her as Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein.

Back to Newington Green and what’s to be made of the sculptor? Maybe pay a visit yourself and see what you think. If it isn’t your thing there is a great kids adventure playground nearby.

Agatha Christie

(1890-1976)
Let’s just say various places, UK

Don’t you fret, you are totally sorted for Agatha commemorations in the UK. Last count: 4. Watch out Florence Nightingale – she’s coming for you.

‘Born in Torquay in 1890, Agatha Christie became, and remains, the best-selling novelist of all time. She is best known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, as well as the world’s longest-running play – The Mousetrap. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation.’

The above text is from Agatha’s dedicated website so I’m not arguing with the information. Now we know who she is, let’s just enjoy her memorials….

Baroness Georgina Mount Temple

(1879-1964)

Babbacombe Downs (near the railway), Torquay

One of the earliest statues to a named woman, Georgina’s obituaries recorded someone who campaigned ‘with passionate indignation against cruelty and injustice’.

One of the first patrons of the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and one of the founders of the Anti-Vivisection League (to stop scientific experiments on live animals) she famously fought for animal rights becoming vegetarian in 1876 and vice-president of the Vegetarian Society in 1884 – take that Paul McCartney! In 1885 she co-founded the Plumage League (campaigning against the use of feathers in women’s fashion). This amalgamated with the Plumage Section, the roots of which served to grow into RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).

The statue complete with a birdbath was erected two years after her death in October 1903 to commemorate her philanthropic works.

Nancy Astor

(1879-1964)

Plymouth Hoe

In 1918 some women over the age of 30 got the vote and in that same year a separate law was passed – the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act – which allowed women to stand as candidates and be elected as MPs. The following year the first woman MP took her seat in the House of Commons. That was Nancy Astor. Although…..

The first woman to actually be elected to the Commons was Constance Markievicz, in the general election of 1918. However, as a member of Sinn Fein, she did not take her seat. This sends me down a rabbit hole of internet information; it’s fascinating, taking in the Easter Uprising and the independence of Ireland. But I’m digressing. Let’s get back to Nancy.

Winning 51% of the Plymouth Sutton by-election vote, Nancy Astor was elected as the Conservative MP after her husband, former MP Waldorf Astor, was elevated to the peerage. One small step for feminism, one giant leap for nepotism?????

Still, she held the seat until she stood down in 1945, holding it for an impressive 25 years. Although she had never been involved in campaigns for women’s suffrage, she was a great supporter of the women’s movement once in Parliament, with Waldorf Astor working to promote the admission of women to the House of Lords during the 1920s. She is described as an advocate for temperance, welfare and education, but Nancy was not without controversy. It is documented that she held anti-Catholic, and anti-semitic views and was a Nazi sympathiser which, it is suggested, led to her being asked to step down towards the end of the war.

On the centenary of her election, this statue was unveiled after a Crowdfunder campaign raised more than £140,000 in just over one year; an extraordinary achievement. Even more gobsmacking was the bipartisan approach, with women MP’s across the political parties showing support. The statue forms part of Plymouth’s Powerful Women trail. Also, note Nancy’s fancy signature on the plinth. Truly sublime.

Ann Glanville

(1796–1880)

Waterfront, Saltash

Born in Saltash, Ann married a waterman – a job entailing carrying people and/or cargo across the River Tamar. Together they had 14 children, but when her husband died, Ann took on the waterman role. She was described as tall, strong and very good at rowing which led to her joining public regattas and races.

Her rowing success spread nationwide and it is believed that in 1833 Ann and her crew beat the ten best male crews in France leading to the title, ‘The Champion Rower of the World’. Ann continued to competitively row past the age of 60. She was also known to row out to warships in the Tamar and joke with the crews.

The fibreglass statue was unveiled in 2013 in Saltash in the main shopping street and relocated to the waterfront in 2018, presumably as there’s less tomfoolery from the public on a Sunday morning riverside stroll than a spicy Saturday night in Saltash centre. But I’m only guessing. Still, I like to think Ann would have fended off any vandals.

Also, did I mention she had 14 children?

Various Women

St Mary’s Church carvings, Beverley

Somewhere, somehow, I hear that a church near the east coast is running a project replacing crumbled stone carvings with new ones, showcasing 9 pioneering women. I could research and write about them myself, but when I arrive an exhibition captures all you need to know…

So you don’t have to endure my jaunty phone camera angles, the exhibition also features plaster casts of the carvings. Phew. The initial plan for one carving to be Queen Elizabeth was changed to Libby Lane, the first female Bishop in the myself, Church of England.

Floella Benjamin

(1949 – )

When I find Floella’s bust on the University of Exeter’s campus, I’m instantly irked by the tarpaulin behind spoiling the pictures. And then I realise I can just take a shot from a different angle and see it another way. Let that be a lesson in life right there.

People of a certain generation will be familiar with Floella. She was a prominent figure in children’s TV around the 70’s and 80’s in Playaway and Playschool, but her CV extends far beyond presenting, into film, campaigning and writing, becoming a peer in the House of Lords in 2010.

Born in Trinidad, she came to the UK at the age of 10 experiencing culture shock adjusting to British life and the adversities she faced. Studying at night school for A-levels, she auditioned for acting roles and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

In 2006, she was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Exeter for contributions to the United Kingdom and served for ten years. The bust was subsequently unveiled a year later with the plague reading:

Consideration ~ put yourself in the place of others and show empathy and respect. Never be judgmental.
Contentment ~ don’t be jealous and envious but be satisfied with what you have. That way you are open and ready to receive what is right for you.
Confidence ~ Be a decent human being, feel worthy and like the person you are. Give and love unconditionally and more will come back to you.

Mary Webb

(1881-1927)
Shrewsbury Library

Author and poet, Mary wrote 6 novels as well as poems, short stories and nature essays. Growing up and spending most of her time around Shropshire she gained inspiration from her countryside surroundings with her work centring around her home county. The Mary Webb Society states, ‘She developed an extraordinary perception for minute detail in nature and this is reflected in the richness of her poetry and prose.’

As most things happen around late 19^th/early 20^th century; things weren’t always easy. She developed Graves’ Disease (a thyroid disorder) at the age of 20, which was to cause her ill health for much of her life and lead to her premature death. She became very self-conscious due to the disfiguring features of the disease and began to retreat into her own solitary world, taking solace in writing.

Her first book was published in 1916, The Golden Arrow, but her most famous work is Precious Bane (1924). Her health deteriorated soon after this, leaving a novel unfinished when she died aged 46.

The back of Mary’s bust reveals a pile of her books and is situated outside Shrewsbury Library. Nice touch.