Dorset is set to unveil a statue of Sylvia Townsend Warner, a trailblazing writer and LGBTQ+ pioneer, in its main shopping area this weekend. The 8ft-high bronze sculpture by Denise Dutton depicts Warner sitting on a bench with a cat, paying homage to her love for animals and the witch's familiar from her bestselling novel Lolly Willowes.
The campaign, which asked for nominations of overlooked women, gathered over 50 names before winning through a landslide vote. The £60,000 cost was raised through crowdfunding and international donations, marking a significant investment in celebrating a remarkable woman who defied convention.
Warner, an author, translator, musicologist, and communist, pushed boundaries in her writing and activism. Her story has long been overlooked, despite her influential contributions to literature, including seven novels and extensive poetry. However, this statue aims to rectify that omission, placing Warner firmly on Dorset's cultural map.
The artist behind the statue, Denise Dutton, explains its significance: "It's about what towns choose to remember and celebrate." By unveiling a statue of a female writer who was ahead of her time, Dorchester is signaling to future generations that women's stories matter. Pearson sees it as an antidote to the symbolic erasure of women from civic landscapes, where men's achievements have long dominated.
Warner's legacy extends beyond her writing; she lived authentically and openly with her partner Valentine Ackland for decades in a quiet Dorset village. This statue honors not only Warner's literary contributions but also her courage as an LGBTQ+ pioneer.
The unveiling comes as part of a growing movement to create more statues celebrating overlooked women, such as Mary Anning and Aphra Behn, who are already commemorated in Richmond and Canterbury respectively. Other groups, like Visible Women UK, are working on memorials for suffragette Mary Clarke, factory worker Ada Nield Chew, and others.
By honoring Warner's legacy, Dorchester is not only celebrating a remarkable writer but also challenging the status quo of what women have traditionally been remembered for in public spaces. As one advocate puts it, "You can be that brave and courageous and wonderful as well" – a message that resonates with generations to come.
The campaign, which asked for nominations of overlooked women, gathered over 50 names before winning through a landslide vote. The £60,000 cost was raised through crowdfunding and international donations, marking a significant investment in celebrating a remarkable woman who defied convention.
Warner, an author, translator, musicologist, and communist, pushed boundaries in her writing and activism. Her story has long been overlooked, despite her influential contributions to literature, including seven novels and extensive poetry. However, this statue aims to rectify that omission, placing Warner firmly on Dorset's cultural map.
The artist behind the statue, Denise Dutton, explains its significance: "It's about what towns choose to remember and celebrate." By unveiling a statue of a female writer who was ahead of her time, Dorchester is signaling to future generations that women's stories matter. Pearson sees it as an antidote to the symbolic erasure of women from civic landscapes, where men's achievements have long dominated.
Warner's legacy extends beyond her writing; she lived authentically and openly with her partner Valentine Ackland for decades in a quiet Dorset village. This statue honors not only Warner's literary contributions but also her courage as an LGBTQ+ pioneer.
The unveiling comes as part of a growing movement to create more statues celebrating overlooked women, such as Mary Anning and Aphra Behn, who are already commemorated in Richmond and Canterbury respectively. Other groups, like Visible Women UK, are working on memorials for suffragette Mary Clarke, factory worker Ada Nield Chew, and others.
By honoring Warner's legacy, Dorchester is not only celebrating a remarkable writer but also challenging the status quo of what women have traditionally been remembered for in public spaces. As one advocate puts it, "You can be that brave and courageous and wonderful as well" – a message that resonates with generations to come.
this statue thingy is like, you know when we're trying to remember the people who paved the way for us, but their stories get lost in the noise? it's like, Sylvia Townsend Warner was totally ahead of her time, living openly as an LGBTQ+ person back then. and now we're finally giving her a seat on that bench 
with a cat, symbolizing all the women who are still getting erased from history. it's not just about celebrating one person's legacy, but also about challenging our collective memory to be more inclusive, you know? it's like, we need more of these statues that show us what bravery looks like in different forms 
it's not just about celebrating a writer, but also challenging the status quo of what women are remembered for in public spaces, you feel?
I'm so stoked! Finally some recognition for this trailblazing woman who broke all the rules in her time 
She was ahead of her time, you know? Writing novels and poetry, translating books, even being an activist... it's crazy she didn't get more attention back then 
. I love that the artist Denise Dutton put so much thought into this piece - it's not just a statue, it's about what towns choose to remember and celebrate 
. And let's be real, Warner's story is still super inspiring today 
- shows how much people care about preserving history and promoting inclusivity.
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. It's about time we recognize women who paved their own paths in literature, politics, and activism. Sylvia Townsend Warner was way ahead of her time, and it's not just about celebrating her writing, but also acknowledging her courage as an LGBTQ+ pioneer 
. But what's really interesting is how this is a way for Dorset to challenge the status quo and show that women can be just as brave, courageous, and wonderful too 
. It's not about erasing men from history, but about filling in the gaps with women who often got overlooked. This is all about creating a more inclusive narrative of what we consider 'heroic' 
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just think about how much history is being lost if we don't celebrate women like Sylvia Warner who paved the way for so many others. Her life was full of courage and authenticity, it's amazing she's finally getting the recognition she deserves 
. And I love that the statue is in a main shopping area, you know, where people are actually walking by all day, not just some quiet alleyway 
. It's like Dorchester is saying "Hey, we value our women's stories" and I think it's so powerful 
dorset is doin a great job promoting women's rights by creatin a bronze sculpture of syvia townsend warner, who was defo ahead of her time 
and its awesome that ppl r workin together to create these memorials, like visible women uk 
. Can't they just leave some of these statues blank or something? Just my two cents, I guess 
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it just goes to show that when we come together, we can make a real difference