Millicent Fawcett Statue

Born in 1847 in Aldeburgh, from the age of 19 Millicent Fawcett campaigned tirelessly for women’s right to vote. In 1866 she collected signatures on a petition which she was too young to sign herself.

Manchester Guardian, 7th August 1929

In the 1870s Millicent Fawcett became well known as a speaker and lecturer when women rarely ventured on to public platforms.

As well as doing the necessary and often dull work: lobbying MPs, writing letters and pamphlets, organising delegations, and chairing committees, she also achieved the extraordinary feat of organising a pilgrimage of 70,000 people from all around Britain to march into Hyde Park in July 1913.

Millicent Fawcett was present on 6 February 1918, when the Representation of the People Bill became law.

She was also present in the Ladies’ Gallery in parliament in 1928 to witness the granting of universal suffrage on equal terms with men.


On its passing, she spoke of her “thankful heart”, understating her contribution, noting her “extraordinary good luck in having seen the struggle from the beginning.”

This new work presents Fawcett’s individual courage as part of a collective struggle.

Alongside Fawcett, the names and portraits of 59 women and men who campaigned for women’s suffrage are inscribed on the plinth.

The hands in the statue are cast from Wearing’s own. They were scanned and manipulated in order to fit Millicent’s pose within the statue.