Author Sylvia Townsend Warner to be Honored with County Town’s First Non-Royal Female Statue

A writer and poet, recognized for her pioneering role in promoting lesbian visibility and acceptance, is set to be commemorated with a statue. Sylvia Townsend Warner resided in Dorset with her partner, poet Valentine Ackland, during a period when same-sex relationships challenged prevailing societal norms. This sculpture, planned for Dorchester’s main shopping street, will represent the first non-royal woman to be honored with a statue in the county town. Its realization is the outcome of a campaign spearheaded by the charity Visible Women UK, which advocates for increased representation of women in public art. Townsend Warner, who lived from 1893 to 1978, was a prolific author whose works included Lolly Willowes, The Corner That Held Them, and Kingdoms of Elfin. She was chosen from a shortlist of notable Dorset women compiled by the charity, which was subsequently presented for a public vote. Anya Pearson, a trustee for the charity, whose prior campaign led to the installation of a statue of fossil hunter Mary Anning in Lyme Regis, had previously observed that Dorchester’s monuments consisted of “six men, one dog, a queen and a horse.” Announcing Townsend Warner as the winner, Pearson stated: “Sylvia lived her life as her true self, something many still find impossible due to prejudice and ignorance.” She added, “She is a modern-day role model, allowing young people to see themselves in what she achieved all those years ago.” Preliminary designs by Denise Dutton, the sculptor behind the Anning statue, depict Townsend Warner seated on a bench alongside one of her cats. This feline figure is based on Susie, a well-known cat frequently observed in shops within the town centre. The completed statue is scheduled for installation outside Gould’s department store. Author Tracy Chevalier, a patron of Visible Women UK, commented: “When people think of Dorset writers, they tend to think of men – Thomas Hardy and the poet William Barnes – that’s why I’m so delighted that there is going to be a statue of Townsend Warner, who spent most of her life in Dorset.” You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.