North east shopping centre pays tribute to the region’s famous suffragette

North east shopping centre pays tribute to the region’s famous suffragette

11 March 2015

A building at Sanderson Arcade in Morpeth is being renamed this month – in tribute to the town’s famous daughter, the suffragette Emily Wilding Davison.

The votes-for-women campaigner dedicated her life to the cause of the suffragettes, she is best known for stepping in front of the King’s Horse Amner at the Epson Derby on June 4th 1913 - Emily died of the injuries she sustained four days later.

Morpeth hosted a series of “Emily Inspires” events in June 2013 to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of their own “Lawless Lassie” who is buried in St Mary’s Church in the town.

And later this month she’ll be remembered again in a special ceremony at The Arcade to name a building Davison House – the new entrance feature has been painted in striking “suffragette” purple which along with green and white became the colours of the movement.

Members of Emily’s family as well as local councillors, first time voters and the organisers of the “Emily Inspires” event will attend the official opening.

Geoffrey Davison, head of the Davison family, based in Sydney, Australia, welcomed the tribute to Emily saying it was a very fitting and appropriate recognition of her place in history and her link with Morpeth.

He added: “The Davison and closely related Emily Wilding Davison family commend Dransfield Properties and Sanderson Arcade for their thoughtfulness and contribution to the sustained memory of a true heroine of Morpeth and of the Nation. I look forward to visiting Davison House when I next come to Morpeth.”

Councillor Andrew Tebbutt, local Northumberland County and Morpeth Town councillor representing Morpeth Kirkhill, who has chaired the Emily Inspires! Working Group for nine years also welcomed the move.

Cllr Tebbutt said:  “Seeing Emily recognised in the very centre of Morpeth is something I have wanted to see for a long time. I really welcome this initiative from Sanderson Arcade.”

Artwork created by the north east artist Jan Szymczuk and a plaque in recognition of Emily’s contribution to the suffragette movement will also be unveiled at Davison House at the ceremony which is due to be held on Saturday March 21st at 2:30pm.

Centre Manager at Sanderson Arcade Medi Parry said: “We know that many people who come to Morpeth visit Emily’s grave but there isn’t anywhere here in the town centre which pays tribute to her contribution to fighting for women’s right to vote.

"When we were remodelling the entrances to our offices we thought this would be a great opportunity to remember Emily and rename the building in her honour.

"We felt it would be appropriate to keep the colours and the artwork in keeping with the colours which the suffragettes used. We are very proud to be able to remember Morpeth’s famous daughter in this way.”

Davison House can be found in the piazza area of the Arcade, next to Marks and Spencer and Laura Ashley, the new entrance has been created to lead upstairs to a number of local businesses on the second floor at the centre including Advice4Business and Jazz Hair Salon.

Pictures - taken at Sanderson Arcade during the Emily Inspires! event in 2013.
 
 

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk