Emily Wilding Davison Memorial in Epsom

On June 4th, 1913, the dedicated suffragette Emily Wilding Davison arrived at the Epsom Derby, planning to raise attention to women’s suffrage by putting a Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) scarf on the King’s horse. She stepped onto the course during the race, and unfortunately, the King’s horse ran over her. She died four days later.

Recent analysis of the case shows it was fortunate that she miscalculated the situation rather than intending to kill herself.

On June 8th, 2013, the 100th anniversary of her death, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in tribute to her legacy at Epsom Down Racecourse. This significant event marked the inception of the Emily Davison Memorial Project, championed by Sarah Dewing. The project faced some obstacles and faded but was renewed in 2018 with the grand commemoration of the centenary milestone, honoring a century of women securing the right to vote.

The Emily Davison Memorial Project chose the artist Christine Charlesworth MRBS SWA, who depicted Davison wearing the hat she wore at the Epsom Derby, sitting on a bench, chatting with the visitor who will join her; a pile of her favorite books lay next to her and on top is a mortar board which she wore on suffragette marches.

The statue was dedicated on June 8th, 2021, in the Epsom marketplace in the presence of family members, Emily Davison Memorial Project’s members, and the community.

Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) was a well-educated teacher who joined the WSPU in 1906. Soon, she became one of the most militant and committed suffragettes. She got arrested several times, went on hunger strikes, and was force-fed several times.

Her funeral was organized by the WSPU and attended by thousands of people. She was buried in the family plot in Morpeth, Northumberland. A statue of her was dedicated at Carlisle Park in Morpeth in 2018, just a short walk from her grave.