Rare new statue of black woman unveiled in London – who is she?

A rare new statue of a black woman who has been ‘hidden in history’ has been unveiled for Londoners to make wishes at.

The statue of Mary Woolaston has been erected after it was found there were only three permanent statues of black women in London.

She was said to be a 17th century woman in King’s Cross, who kept a well with the ability to people’s eyes.

Now, made from St Bees sandstone and carved by Marcia Bennett-Male, the only black female stone carver in the UK, Mary has been brought back to he heart of London in Cowthorpe Community Gardens.

Lead artist Gaylene Gould told Metro: ‘There are glimpses of Mary in the history books, but some people still deny she exists.

‘There is one argument suggesting she was actually a black cow, or a nun just wearing a habit, but we want to breathe life into her.

‘But she now stands to represent working class women, particuarly those of colour, who have never had history written properly about her.’

The statue has been placed in Cowthorpe, next to a stream which runs through a small community garden in the middle of high rises.

Around her, the previously disused area has been transformed into a pleasure garden to try and create a space which Mary would have thrived in.

‘As I was walking through the area, I just immediately knew, “this is Mary’s well”,’ Gaylene said.

‘We want Londoners to be able to pause just for a moment, offer wishes, prayers.’

The idea to create a statue of Mary has been in the back of Gaylene’s mind for years. But after the Covid pandemic erupted and people were ordered to keep to a more solitary existence, plans were put into action.

She said: ‘All of a sudden there was a big threat to our survival, and people were without a community.

‘But there were people who were voluntarily still trying to keep their areas alive and connected, such as gardeners and keepers. We want to honour them.’

Funding to create the statue was granted by the Mayor of London’s office who started a project to increase diversity in the public realm.

It was commissioned in 2020 to highlight previously untold stories for London’s diverse histories.

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