St George’s Hall is preparing to welcome a historic new addition that promises to reshape the cultural landscape of Liverpool.
The St George’s Hall Charitable Trust has officially announced that Merseyside-born sculptor Richard Mossman has won the commission to create a permanent, monumental marble statue of Mary Seacole.
This installation marks a significant milestone, becoming the first statue of a black person and only the second dedicated to a woman within the iconic Great Hall.
The winning proposal, a detailed 3D maquette, captured the jury’s attention for its emotional depth and technical mastery.
Mossman, a renowned figurative sculptor, is now set to translate this preliminary model into premium Carrara marble using traditional hand-chiselling techniques.
Mossman said:
“Mary gently gathers her dress in her right hand, head slightly cocked and a knowing and warm expression on her face, she reaches out her left hand in a gesture of welcome.
“It was important to me that her compassion and kindness were foremost in my composition.”
A Legacy of Resilience and Care
Mary Seacole’s journey from 19th-century Jamaica to the heart of Liverpool’s neoclassical architecture is a story of defiance against prejudice.
Despite being rejected for official nursing duties during the Crimean War due to her race, Seacole self-funded her journey to the front lines, where she treated thousands of wounded soldiers, many of whom hailed from Liverpool.
Her tireless spirit earned her the affectionate title ‘Mother Seacole,’ a legacy that this statue seeks to preserve for future generations.
Claire Dove CBE, DL, Chair of the SGH Charitable Trust, expressed the importance of this addition:
“We believe our children deserve to see people of every colour celebrated in Liverpool’s iconic St George’s Hall.
“If we are to call a halt to generations of prejudice and distortion in the way our history is told, it is vital we make this change now.”
Preview the Vision in the Stable Gallery
For those eager to witness the project’s evolution, the Mary Seacole: A Figure of Care exhibition has been extended at the St George’s Hall Stable Gallery until 28 March.
Visitors have the rare opportunity to view Mossman’s winning maquette and gain insight into the artistic process before the intensive carving of the full-scale monument begins.
As the Trust continues to raise funds to bring this vision to life, the public is encouraged to contribute to the mission.
By supporting the campaign you can play a part in ensuring Mother Seacole takes her rightful place as a centerpiece in one of Liverpool’s greatest civic treasures.
