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Suffragette Memorial facts for kids

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Suffragette Memorial, Christchurch Gardens, London
The sculpture in 2012

The Suffragette Memorial is a special statue in London, England. It remembers the brave people who fought for women's right to vote in the UK. You can find it in Christchurch Gardens, a park in the Victoria area of London.

The memorial was designed by sculptors Lorne McKean and Edwin Russell. An architect named Paul Paget helped guide the project. It was officially shown to the public in 1970.

About the Suffragette Memorial

The memorial looks like a giant scroll shaped like the letter "S". It's made from a strong material called fibreglass, which is then covered to look like bronze. This scroll sits on a round base.

What the Memorial Shows

The words on the scroll tell a powerful message:

This tribute is erected by the Suffragette Fellowship to commemorate the courage and perseverance of all those men and women who in the long struggle for votes for women selflessly braved derision, opposition and ostracism, many enduring physical violence and suffering.

This means it honors everyone who showed great bravery and never gave up while fighting for women's voting rights. They faced many challenges and difficulties.

There's also another message on the memorial. It points out that Caxton Hall, a building nearby, was a very important place for women's suffrage meetings. From there, groups would often go to Parliament to ask for changes.

You can also see a special badge on both sides of the scroll. This badge is called the Holloway brooch. It was used by two important groups: the Women's Social and Political Union and the Women's Freedom League. On the back of the scroll, there's even a picture of the entrance to Holloway Prison. This reminds us that some suffragettes were held there because of their fight for votes.

Who Built the Memorial?

The memorial was asked for by the Suffragette Fellowship. This group was dedicated to remembering the fight for women's right to vote. Only living suffragettes or their family members could join this special fellowship.

The Day It Was Unveiled

When the memorial was first shown in 1970, many suffragettes who were still alive came to the event. These included Grace Roe, who was the president of the Suffragette Fellowship, along with Edith Clayton Pepper, Leonora Cohen, and Lilian Lenton.

A politician from the Labour Party named Edith Summerskill spoke at the unveiling. She told everyone how grateful she was to the suffragettes. She promised to keep working for women's causes. Another Labour politician, Horace King, who was the Speaker of the House of Commons, also attended. He said he believed that one day there would be a woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

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