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Women's Suffrage Memorial
Specialist statue installation
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In 2018, Parliament Square gained a new and long‑overdue presence: the first statue of a woman, sculpted by a woman, to stand among the nation’s political giants. The memorial to Dame Millicent Fawcett, pioneering suffragist, campaigner, and leader of the movement for women’s voting rights, was unveiled to mark 100 years since some women first won the right to vote. Created by Turner Prize‑winning artist Gillian Wearing OBE, the monument places Fawcett at the centre of a powerful visual narrative. Around her plinth are portraits of 55 women and four men who fought for suffrage, each image laser‑cut into marble from historic photographs, forming a collective tribute to those who shaped the path to equality.
Client
Greater London Authority
Dates
28 Jul 2017
—
24 Apr 2018
Location
London
Fabric
Granite
Stone
Architects
Donald Insall Architects
Building a Monument of National Significance
DBR’s Statues Team played a central role in bringing this landmark memorial to life. Working closely with Gillian Wearing, AB Fine Art Foundry, the Greater London Authority, and Donald Insall Associates, the team delivered the complex construction and installation works required to anchor the sculpture within Parliament Square’s historic setting.
The project began beneath the surface, with the installation of short bored piles and reinforced concrete foundations designed to support the weight of the statue and its expansive plinth. The plinth itself was clad in Scottish granite and Portland stone, materials chosen for their durability, elegance, and connection to Britain’s architectural heritage. Into this stonework, the marble portrait tablets were set, each one etched with extraordinary precision to preserve the likenesses of suffrage campaigners whose contributions had long gone unrecognised.
Craftsmanship That Complements a Legacy
The installation of the Millicent Fawcett memorial builds on DBR’s longstanding involvement in Parliament Square. The team previously installed the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, two global figures whose presence symbolises justice, leadership, and the struggle for equality. The Fawcett memorial now stands proudly alongside them, completing a trio of monuments that speak to courage, democracy, and the power of collective action.
A New Chapter in Parliament Square’s Story
Today, Dame Millicent Fawcett stands with her banner, “Courage calls to courage everywhere”, facing the Houses of Parliament she fought so hard to influence. The memorial is more than a statue; it is a reminder of the women and men who reshaped British democracy, and a testament to the ongoing pursuit of equality.
DBR’s contribution ensured that this historic moment was grounded in exceptional craftsmanship, structural integrity, and deep respect for the story being told. The result is a monument that will inspire generations to come.
