Venerated landmarks of transformation: London's statues saluting extraordinary females
In a significant shift, London, the bustling heart of England, has seen a growing trend of commemorating remarkable women in its streets. This change is vividly evident as more women than men are now being honoured with new statues for the first time.
One of the latest additions is the statue of Ada Lovelace, a pioneer in computing, who was unveiled in Westminster in 2022. Daughter of the notorious Lord Byron, Ada Lovelace, often dubbed "the enchantress of numbers," collaborated with Charles Babbage on his early mechanical computer. Her statue, located at Millbank Quarter, Horseferry Road, Westminster, is backed by gilded punch cards, a symbolic nod to her legacy in the digital age.
Ada Lovelace's statue is not alone in its celebration of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths). Another significant figure, Joy Battick, has two statues in London, making her the second non-royal to be honoured in this way. Joy Battick's first statue, Platforms Piece, was installed in Brixton Railway Station in 1986. Her second statue, Joy II, was unveiled in 2023, 36 years after the first one. The artist behind Joy II, Kevin Atherton, has captured Joy Battick as a smiling, warm 60-something.
The oldest surviving statue of a named woman in London is that of Queen Elizabeth I, located in the Church of St Dunstan-in-the-West, Fleet Street. However, it was not until 2018 that a woman was honoured alone in Parliament Square, when the statue of Millicent Fawcett was unveiled. This statue, by Gillian Wearing, faces directly toward the House of Commons, a powerful symbol of Fawcett's advocacy for women's rights.
This trend towards honouring women is also explored in a new book that delves into the growing number of statues commemorating remarkable women across London. Ada Lovelace Day, which honours women in STEM each October, continues to celebrate these women and their contributions to society.
The statue of a girl with a dolphin, by David Wynne, installed at the north end of Tower Bridge in 1973, is another testament to London's growing appreciation for women. As these statues stand, they serve as a reminder of the incredible women who have shaped London's history and continue to inspire future generations.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
- Abdominal Fat Accumulation: Causes and Strategies for Reduction
