Statues honoring exceptional women grace London's cityscape, symbolizing societal evolution

In the heart of London, the city's streets are becoming a testament to the achievements of remarkable women. Over the past few decades, statues of trailblazing women have been unveiled, each one telling a story of resilience, innovation, and inspiration.

Fifty years ago, the statue of Virginia Wade, the last British woman to win Wimbledon, was unveiled. Wade, famously reserved, stands as a symbol of British tennis prowess. More recently, in 2022 and 2023, statues of Ada Lovelace and Joy Battick were added to the city's landscape, honouring these women as pioneers in their respective fields.

Ada Lovelace, often dubbed "the enchantress of numbers," collaborated with Charles Babbage on his early mechanical computer. Her groundbreaking work laid the foundations for modern computing, even though computers did not exist during her lifetime. Her bronze likeness stands in the Millbank Quarter, Horseferry Road, Westminster, backed by gilded punch cards, a nod to her legacy in the digital age.

Ada Lovelace's statue, sculpted by Mary & Etienne Millner in 2022, is a welcome and long-overdue addition to London's streets. Her life and legacy are celebrated each October on Ada Lovelace Day, a day that honours women in STEM.

Joy Battick, a woman of colour, has two statues in London, making her just the second non-royal to be honoured in this way. Her first statue was installed in 1986 at Brixton Railway Station, and her second statue, unveiled in 2023, captures her as a smiling, warm 60-something.

London's oldest surviving statue of a named woman, Elizabeth I, was possibly sculpted during her lifetime. The statue survived the Great Fire and was salvaged from a pub basement in 1839. Queen Elizabeth I's statue stands as a symbol of resilience and endurance, much like the women who have been honoured more recently.

As of 2023, more women than men were commemorated in new statues in London for the first time. This shift is a testament to the growing recognition of the contributions of women throughout history. Notable additions include Millicent Fawcett, who was installed in Parliament Square in 2018, making her the first woman to be honoured alone in this location.

The unveiling of these statues serves as a reminder of the remarkable achievements of these women and the impact they have had on their respective fields. They stand as beacons of inspiration for future generations, encouraging them to pursue their passions and break barriers, just as these women did.