Statues that work

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Statues that work

By Ruth Bright | Tue 16th June 2020 - 3:00 pm

No-one could call Eastleigh Town Centre a pretty place.

But something that Eastleigh gets exactly right is its statues. There is the generic son of industrial toil: the Railwayman, tribute to the town’s railway heritage. Then there is Charlotte Yonge, a Victorian novelist who named the town. Charlotte is very unusual in England – a female statue who isn’t Queen Victoria, a minor nineteenth century royal or a mythical angel type figure on a war memorial (though Eastleigh has one of those too).

Here they both are (above), Charlotte and the Railwayman, decorated for Pride last year.

* Ruth Bright has been a councillor in Southwark and Parliamentary Candidate for Hampshire East

Read more by Ruth Bright or more about eastleigh, railways or statues.
This entry was posted in Photo feature.

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6 Comments

Jane Ann Liston 16th Jun '20 - 8:17pm

I’ve read 2 or 3 of Charlotte Yonge’s novels; unfortunately they are not wonderful. Pity.
Ruth Bright 17th Jun '20 - 9:50am

Jane Ann – I have to admit I went to a local school event featuring images of Charlotte Yonge and suggested the Year 10s stick to the work of Austen and Bronte!
Lynne Rapson 17th Jun '20 - 11:01pm

As a lifelong reader of Charlotte Yonge’s books I can testify that they are well worth reading. She was an incredible person.
Ruth Bright 18th Jun '20 - 6:57am

Lynne – I am duly chastised! Which book should I attempt again?
Georgina Sullivan 19th Jun '20 - 7:46am

Not having read any Charlotte Yonge I cannot comment on her virtues or otherwise as an author but I would put money on her being non-controversial, white & probably middle(ish) class, thus not overtly threatening to white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant men.
Also interesting / significant that thus far only women have seen fit to comment?
Ruth Bright 23rd Jun '20 - 5:53pm

Interesting points Georgina. It shows a certain cowardice on my part that I didn’t complain about the plaque to Benny Hill just a couple of streets away from Charlotte. I am sure that would have secured this piece a wider audience!