This afternoon on International Women’s Day, we were left scratching our heads about how half the human race are memorialised (or not) around Edinburgh.
Certainly, in Broughton there are a few very discreet plaques about the New Town.
But, with the exception of some grandiose Victorias, where are the statues of great women to accompany the kings, statesmen, scientists, philosophers and explorers liberally distributed across the rest of the capital?
We could think of only one: a South African township dweller with child in Festival Square.
Tall but overlooked
But there’s another towering monument to an eminent woman hiding in plain site at the junction of St Colme and North Charlotte Streets.
This six-sided Gothic Eleanor cross – paid for by public subscription – commemorates the life and achievements of Catherine Sinclair (1800–64), and its hard-to-decifer black-letter inscription reads:
She was the friend of all children and through her book “Holiday House” speaks to them still.
Besides success in her writings which were many and popular, she was an early pioneer in philanthropy. Her Volunteer Brigade for boys of Leith was the first of its kind. She initiated Cooking Depots for working men, and erected the first Drinking Fountain in Edinburgh. Her Hall for lectures and her work amongst cabmen, endeared her name to different sections of her fellow citizens. This monument was raised by some of her many friends. The inscription except the name and dates was added in 1901 by her affectionate nephew Sir Tollemache Sinclair Bart of Ulbster Caithnesshire.
Sinclair was among the first to recognise Sir Walter Scott as author of the Waverley Novels, and her monument here by David Bryce echoes the one on Princes Street for which she helped raise funds.
Her children’s novel Holiday House (1839) was revolutionary in its day for depicting recognisable, realistic, disobedient infant heroes.
The drinking fountain she had erected at the west end of Princes Street in 1859 made way for the trams in 1932, but was partially reassembled in the 1980s by the Water of Leith pathway at Gosford Place beside the turn-off to Victoria Park. Its inscription – reading ‘Water is not for man alone’ – had less to do with equal rights between the sexes than a respect and sympathy for thirsty animals.
You can read more about her life and works here.
UPDATE: See also 'Which women? Where next?' (Breaking news 30.8.16)
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If you could commission a statue of a notable woman from history,
who would it be and where in Edinburgh would you position it?
Tell us at
spurtle@hotmail.co.uk and @theSpurtle and Facebook
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[Image top-right: Dave Henniker, Creative commons.]
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@theSpurtle Gosford Place and Steadfastgate are sort of in Bonnington
Michael Traill Lets crowdfund a female statue or two?
Michael Traill Actually, seriously, why not get a group together, with the remit of Identifying two suitable females to be celebrated by virtue of a public statue in the City of Edinburgh Council; doing this by public consultation; then seeking commissions and working with the Council to find a suitable location. By starting now, a crowdfunding campaign would be ready to go by Internation Womans Day 2017. Im only saying two woman as I suggest one woman from Edinburgh and one woman of scottish signficance.
Broughton Spurtle Quite agree. We'd certainly offer publicity. Will any female Spurtle readers step forward and take control?Statue of 'ordinary man' outside of Council HQ.
The Polish Bear in Princes Street Gardens.
Adam Smith in the Royal Mile - 2004/5?
Rachel Bell Is there one of Elsie Inglis anywhere?
Books for Babies @CraigmillarBFB
@theSpurtle @edinnews we have the Helen Crummy statue in #Craigmillar
What was the name of woman who pioneered Edinburgh Free Kindergarten in Old Town? @EdinburghWH Worth commemorating with statue? #IWD2016
@theSpurtle @EdinburghWH many women involved in the movement - a statue to all would be good (see my article in Evergreen vol 2 about 1).
Simon Eilbeck Margo McDonald would surely be a worthy subject.