"Saint of the Slums" joining ranks of Liverpool heroes

Kitty Wilkinson

A £150,000 statue is to be created in honour of Kitty Wilkinson the "Saint of the Slums" who pioneered public health among poor families in 19th century Liverpool.

Wilkinson will be the first women to be commemorated with a statue in St George’s Hall, joining the ranks of figures like Prime Minister William Gladstone and slavery abolitionist William Roscoe.

Her work included opening the first public washhouse in the country in Denison Street, Liverpool, and she played a pivotal role in teaching people that cholera was linked to impure water.

Despite her achievements there are few memorials to her in the city but that is to be rectified with the commission of a marble statue by a leading sculptor.

There are 12 marble statues surrounding the Great Hall depicting Victorian and Edwardian men.

However, a number of niches, where the statues stand, have remained empty since the last statue was erected in 1911.

Campaigners have long argued that women’s contribution to the city has not been recognised sufficiently through public art and that women, who have played an important role in the city’s history, should have statues in their honour.

“We have very few statues of women in the city and none at all in our most prominent building, “said Councillor Flo Clucas, the City Council’s Deputy Leader. “ The time is long overdue when we recognised the enormous contribution that women have made to this city.”

A shortlist of sculptors is currently being drawn up from those who have expressed interest. It is anticipated that the final choice will be made in April. It is hoped descendants of Kitty Wilkinson will take part in the selection procedure.

The statue which will be carved in Italian marble will cost in the region of £150,000 and the work is being overseen by English Heritage.

It is the first of three statues of famous Liverpool women who will be commemorated with statues at the Hall. Social reformers Josephine Butler and Eleanor Rathbone will be the subject of future works.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Kitty Wilkinson. She was one of the most important figures in the history of public health in Liverpool. She arrived in the city at the age of three from Londonderry. She worked in a Lancashire cotton mill for a number of years before returning to the city.

Kitty allowed her home to be used as a wash-house during the cholera epidemics of the 1830’s. She also took in homeless children and taught that cleanliness was the main weapon against disease. With public support, Kitty the opened Britain’s first public washhouse in Upper Frederick Street in 1842. She was called the “Saint of the Slums”

“Kitty Wilkinson’s story is one of unbelievable determination, courage and selflessness,“ said Councillor Clucas. “In Liverpool’s Year of Health and Wellbeing there could not be a finer person to be honoured.

“Through rising from abject poverty to achieve lasting reforms in public health Kitty Wilkinson is a real inspiration for every woman in this city.

“What her story is saying to women is that if she could do so much there is no reason why I cannot achieve great things. We call all be inspired by her life.

“The sculpture we are planning has fired the imagination of artists. We have had nearly 30 expressions of interest which is a tremendous number for a work of this nature. We are now looking for a leading sculptor to undertake this commission,

“When it is completed I am sure it will be a fitting tribute to Kitty and a reminder of the contribution she made to Liverpool.”

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