Greater Morpeth Development Trust

Heritage Project

21/10/08

Emily Wilding Davison Restoration Project

The 1^st phase of the Emily Wilding Davison restoration project is now complete. The Trust was awarded a grant of £49,900 and has worked in partnership with Morpeth Town Council and the Emily Wilding Davison Working Group to update the gravestone and surrounding area in St Mary's Churchyard, Morpeth. We are also working on signage and interpretation for the graveyard to allow people better access to the gravestone.

The next phase of the project is the development of the accompanying education programme that aims to improve the understanding of this major element of Morpeth's history. Beamish Museum has run a successful program of interactive educational activities relating to the suffragette movement and we are looking at ways to tie this in with Morpeth's links to Emily Davison.

We are also liaising with staff at Northumberland Archives about ways to use archival material relating to the local suffragette movement and to Emily Davison. We hope to help Morpeth pupils engage with the suffragette movement and Emily Wilding Davison through activities such as rallies, debates, video conferencing and literary exercises relating to this subject.

For more information please contact Tamsin Lilley, Heritage Officer on 01670 503641 or email tamsin.lilley@gmdt.org

28/08/08

Emily Wilding Davison Grant Received

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded a grant of £49,900 to restore the gravestone of Emily Wilding Davison, the suffragette who is one of the most famous of the early 20th century Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison who threw herself under the king’s horse at the 1913 Derby thus making her mark in history.

The Trust in partnership with Morpeth Town Council (MTC) and the Emily Wilding Davison Working Group are restoring her gravestone in St Mary’s Churchyard, Morpeth (www.parishofmorpeth.org.uk). Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund there will be signage and interpretation in and around the graveyard; an education package to be offered to schools and local youth groups; new “Morpeth Town Trail” signs directing tourists to the graveside, as well as restoring a number of adjacent gravestones.

The project will enable the restoration of the monument that marks Emily's grave in the churchyard. It will make the site accessible and improve the quality of the visitor experience. It will enable the restoration of the iron railings, which were removed during the 2nd world war, reconstruction of the plinth, improving site accessibility, restoration of the headstone and the introduction of essential signage and interpretation boards.

A most exciting part of the project will be working in partnership with Beamish museum to incorporate an educational package where schools and youth groups can learn about the suffragette movement and women in politics. This will include acknowledging Emily's contribution through highlighting International Women's day each year and featuring organised site visits every year.

For more information on this project please contact Tamsin Lilley at tamsin.lilley@gmdt.org