A statue of Sylvia Townsend Warner is set to be unveiled in Dorchester, the county where she lived, marking a long-overdue recognition of her contributions to literature and feminism. The 60,000-pound project was crowdfunded by fans from around the world, with over 50 nominations shortlisted before an overwhelming victory for Warner.
Warner's life and work continue to inspire. Her writing career spanned novels, poetry, and numerous short stories published in the New Yorker. A communist, Red Cross volunteer, and LGBTQ+ trailblazer, she broke down barriers without fear or apology. The Dorchester statue is seen as a testament to her enduring legacy.
By placing the 12-foot-tall sculpture in the town's main shopping area, organizers aim to assert women's stories have a place in public spaces. Ananya Pearson, campaign leader, said Warner "pushed boundaries, wrote without fear and lived authentically." The statue aims to reflect this authentic self proudly and openly.
Pearson is no stranger to campaigning for female statues. Her work on Mary Anning, another Dorset icon, led to her involvement in a growing movement to commemorate overlooked women through the Visible Women UK group. They are pushing to include more female figures across Britain's public spaces.
Sam Johnson has joined forces with Pearson to raise awareness about the match girls of east London, aiming for a statue in a nearby park. Her great-grandmother was part of this pivotal strike against poor working conditions and pay. Johnson wants the new statue to be personable, accessible, and inspiring – "to remind kids that they can be brave, courageous and wonderful."
Warner's life and work continue to inspire. Her writing career spanned novels, poetry, and numerous short stories published in the New Yorker. A communist, Red Cross volunteer, and LGBTQ+ trailblazer, she broke down barriers without fear or apology. The Dorchester statue is seen as a testament to her enduring legacy.
By placing the 12-foot-tall sculpture in the town's main shopping area, organizers aim to assert women's stories have a place in public spaces. Ananya Pearson, campaign leader, said Warner "pushed boundaries, wrote without fear and lived authentically." The statue aims to reflect this authentic self proudly and openly.
Pearson is no stranger to campaigning for female statues. Her work on Mary Anning, another Dorset icon, led to her involvement in a growing movement to commemorate overlooked women through the Visible Women UK group. They are pushing to include more female figures across Britain's public spaces.
Sam Johnson has joined forces with Pearson to raise awareness about the match girls of east London, aiming for a statue in a nearby park. Her great-grandmother was part of this pivotal strike against poor working conditions and pay. Johnson wants the new statue to be personable, accessible, and inspiring – "to remind kids that they can be brave, courageous and wonderful."
So there's a statues of some famous lady from Dorchester and it cost 60k pounds 
but I guess you could say she was worth it - I mean she lived life on her own terms, broke the rules, and wrote some pretty awesome books too! 
And now they wanna put up a statue of her in the shopping area so everyone can see how fierce she was 
. By the way, has anyone seen my grandma's old book collection? I'm convinced it's hidden somewhere in Dorchester with Sylvia Warner's books 
I'm so stoked to see a woman like Sylvia Townsend Warner getting her due recognition in Dorchester! It's about time we celebrated women who broke the mold and paved their own way. The fact that it was a global crowdfunding effort is just amazing 
- it shows how people from all over care about sharing these incredible stories.
.
... a statue for Sylvia Townsend Warner is finally happening in dorchester?! it's about time we give her the recognition she deserves 
, I mean 60k pounds may seem like a lot but think of all the fans who supported this crowdfunded project from around the world 
it's not just about the statues themselves but what they represent - a reminder that we can be brave, courageous and wonderful 
Finally, someone is giving Sylvia Townsend Warner the recognition she deserves! I mean, it's about time Dorchester celebrated its own literary icon. It's awesome to see a 60k-pound statue, literally taking up space in the town center, making a statement about women's stories being important enough for public display. Can you imagine if the Dorset council had just left this one to chance? I guess crowdfunding is a great way to get what you want (and pay off debt at the same time). But seriously, it's awesome that Ananya Pearson and Sam Johnson are leading the charge to put more female figures in public spaces. It's high time we see more of these statues popping up across Britain! 
. Ananya Pearson's work on Mary Anning is super inspiring, and I'd love to see more people getting involved in that Visible Women UK group 
. Overall, this feels like a win-win for both Warner's legacy and women's representation in public spaces 
.
. a communist, LGBTQ+ trailblazer? that's some serious hero status right there 
. and ananya pearson's work on mary anning was so inspiring, now she's taking on sam johnson's mission to match girls... it's amazing to see these women breaking down barriers & paving the way for future generations 
but it's amazing that her legacy is finally getting the recognition it deserves. as someone who's passionate about mindfulness and self-care, it's really inspiring to see women like Warner breaking barriers and living authentically 
it's so cool that a project crowdfunded by fans worldwide made this happen, 60k pounds is no joke! but what I love most is how it's part of a movement to celebrate women's stories in public spaces. we need more of these 
and I'm still smiling about it. But I digress... this news is so awesome! A statue for Sylvia Townsend Warner is a great idea, she was such an inspiration to many women and it's amazing that her legacy is being celebrated in Dorchester. You know what would be cool? If we could get more statues of people who were part of the Red Cross, like Clara Barton 
... I've always been fascinated by their work during WWI and II. Anyway, back to Warner - it's great that her story is being told and she'll now have a place in the town's main shopping area. Maybe they can even put up a bench with some of her quotes or something 
I think it's absolutely fantastic that a statue dedicated to Sylvia Townsend Warner is finally being unveiled in Dorchester! 
The whole movement behind this project, led by Ananya Pearson and others, is really inspiring - it's all about creating a more inclusive and diverse representation of history in our public spaces. I'm excited to see what other statues and projects come out of this Visible Women UK group! 
. And now, her legacy is finally being celebrated with this massive 60k-pound statue 
But at the same time... it's a great way to bring people together and raise awareness about important issues, right? 
The idea that we can create public spaces that celebrate women's stories is so important, and I'm loving the fact that Sam Johnson is on board to highlight even more amazing women like the match girls 
) and make sure we don't forget about these incredible women who paved the way for us. It's like, totally inspiring 
!