Millicent Garrett Fawcett Statue in Parliament Square

A Historic First for Parliament Square

The Millicent Garrett Fawcett Statue, unveiled on 24 April 2018, marks a historic milestone as the first statue of a woman and the first sculpture by a woman in Parliament Square, Westminster, London. This bronze monument commemorates Dame Millicent Fawcett, a leading suffragist and social reformer whose peaceful campaigning played a pivotal role in securing voting rights for women in the UK. The statue was designed by Turner Prize-winning artist Gillian Wearing and funded through the UK government’s Centenary Fund, celebrating 100 years since the Representation of the People Act 1918 granted some women the vote.

Design and Symbolism

The statue depicts Fawcett as a dignified 50-year-old, the age at which she became president of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). She holds a banner bearing the phrase "Courage calls to courage everywhere," a line from her 1913 speech following the death of fellow suffragette Emily Wilding Davison. The marble plinth features a continuous frieze with photographic images of 59 individuals—women and men—who actively supported the suffrage movement, symbolizing the collective nature of the struggle for women's rights.

Campaign and Unveiling

The statue’s creation followed a determined campaign led by activist Caroline Criado Perez, who highlighted the absence of female statues in Parliament Square and rallied public support through a petition signed by over 85,000 people. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and then Prime Minister Theresa May endorsed the campaign. The unveiling ceremony was a significant event attended by political leaders, campaigners, schoolchildren, and choirs, emphasizing the statue’s role in celebrating women’s contributions to British democracy.

Millicent Fawcett’s Legacy

Born in 1847 in Suffolk, Millicent Fawcett dedicated her life to advancing women’s rights through peaceful advocacy. After the death of her husband Henry Fawcett, she intensified her suffrage work, leading the NUWSS from 1907 to 1919. Her efforts contributed to the passage of the 1918 Representation of the People Act and the eventual Equal Franchise Act of 1928, which granted women voting rights equal to men. Fawcett’s legacy extends beyond suffrage to education and social reform, including her role in founding Newnham College, Cambridge.

The Statue’s Setting and Surroundings

Situated in Parliament Square, the statue stands among monuments to prominent male leaders such as Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln, symbolically breaking the male-only dominance of the space. The flower beds flanking the statue are planted with red, white, and green flowers, the colors associated with the suffragist movement, distinguishing it from the purple, white, and green of the suffragettes. This setting underscores the peaceful and inclusive approach championed by Fawcett and her supporters.

A Living Memorial to Collective Struggle

The statue not only honors Millicent Fawcett but also serves as a memorial to the broader suffrage movement, with the plinth’s etched figures representing the network of activists who fought for women’s rights. It stands as a testament to the power of collective action and the enduring impact of Fawcett’s leadership in British history.