A public sculpture has been produced to honour Elizabeth Heyrick – one of Leicester’s ‘most influential yet overlooked’ figures.
Elizabeth Heyrick was a local abolitionist and philanthropist whose impact on the fight against slavery has been largely forgotten. Elizabeth emerged as the winner of an online vote that highlighted five remarkable women whose legacies have been unjustly neglected.
Earlier today, Leicester’s City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby has on hand to receive a specially commissioned miniature sculpture of Elizabeth Heyrick, which is to be displayed at the city’s New Walk museum.
It was created by local sculptor Corinne Lambert and met with the approval of Jess Jenkins, trustee of The Elizabeth Heyrick Society. The group are fighting for more recognition of Elizabeth Heyrick here in Leicester, hailing her as ‘a beacon of justice and compassion,’ but one who has been largely overlooked.
“We’re delighted to attend today’s event. It’s a landmark on the movement we’re on to try and celebrate Elizabeth Heyrick but there’s more to be done,” Mrs Jenkins told the Leicester Times.
“We want Elizabeth to be known. We want to build up educational resources, we want to liaise with museums and teachers so that every child in Leicestershire and beyond grows up knowing and valuing Elizabeth Heyrick and the important values she stood for; passion and justice.
“She was a quaker so she was very humble. I think she’d have been slightly embarrassed by the idea of a sculpture depicting her, but she would have been delighted that we were remembering the values she stood for,” she added. “She would have certainly appreciated the gesture of the chains being broken.
“She knew that slavery was an abomination, she wasn’t going to listen to anybody else. She knew it was wrong. She said immediate not gradual abolition and the breaking of the chains, I think conveys it rather well.”
This year marks 200 years since the publication of Elizabeth’s most famous pamphlet “Immediate, not gradual abolition” in 1824. It played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and spurring the abolitionist movement in Britain and abroad. She also pioneered the first anti-slavery ladies’ society and organised a sugar boycott to protest slave labour.
The society are trying to raise funds for a permanent outdoor statue of Elizabeth to be installed in Leicester.
Sir Peter Soulsby said it was something the council are looking into.
“We are intensely aware that we haven’t done sufficiently enough to recognise the impression that Elizabeth made, and we’ve got some catching up to do in raising the profile on her recognition,” he said.
“We’ve been talking about getting something out on the street to mark her contribution more prominently, and I think this is something we shall be putting a focus on in the future.
“She’s long overdue for appropriate recognition in Leicester. The fact is that in previous generations, Leicester and other places have been much better at recognising men than they have women. It’s a sad fact, and certainly Elizabeth’s contribution was desperately important, so I’m pleased we’re beginning the process of restoring the recognition that she deserves.”
To find out more about Elizabeth Heyrick, visit the society’s website at: https://www.elizabethheyrick.org/
