Statue of England's 'forgotten suffragette' Annie Kenney unveiled in December

Oldham-born Annie Kenney was a leading force in the movement that fought for women’s right to vote in the early 20th century.

But unlike her more famous sisters-in-arms Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel, Annie’s legacy and contributions have been largely forgotten.

Her jailing after confronting Winston Churchill and Sir Edward Grey at a meeting was seen as a pivotal moment in turning the suffragettes towards radical and direct protest.

Now a new statue depicting the cotton worker, who was arrested 13 times in her efforts to get universal suffrage, will be installed on a plinth on the steps of Oldham’s old town hall.

The unveiling will take place on December 14, to commemorate the centenary of the Representation of the People Act, which saw some women get the vote.

It has been funded entirely through donations raised by the Annie Kenney Memorial Fund Committee.

It has managed to raise £24,000, and is continuing to seek to raise the remaining £6,000 to cover the total cost.

The life-like statue, designed by sculptor Denise Dutton, portrays Annie decked out in the famous “Votes for Women” sash and ringing a bell.

She was the only working class woman to hold a senior position in the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) – the group which spearheaded the campaign for universal suffrage under the banner ‘Votes for Women.’

The council is commissioning the statue and will take ownership and responsibility for maintaining it as part of the public realm within Oldham town centre.

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon has been a passionate campaigner for the memorial, which was also backed by actress Maxine Peake.

The MP, who also chairs the Annie Kenney project, said: “Annie was an inspiring woman who stepped up to change the world.

“Without her and others we would not have made progress in reforming our democracy.

“So the statue is more than just an installation – it is about recognising Oldham’s contribution and telling Annie’s story to the next generation.

‘What’s more the statue will have been paid for by public subscription through the efforts of hundreds of people who feel inspired by her story.”

He thanked all who had donated so far, including schools, colleges, trade unions, local businesses, community organisations and members of the public.

Metal casting firm Leander Architectural has been commissioned to complete the project.

The town hall will also support the opening launch by having Annie Kenney archive material on display in its WW1 exhibition to coincide with the unveiling.

Annie Kenney was one of 12 children, born in 1879 to a relatively poor family.

She started work in a local cotton mill at the age of ten and there became actively involved in the trade union.

She rose to prominence in 1905 after she and Christabel Pankhurst interrupted a Liberal rally at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall to ask Winston Churchill and Sir Edward Grey if they believed women should have the right to vote.

Both women were arrested and later imprisoned for allegedly causing an obstruction.

The protest and the jailing, now seen as the starting point of militant action, also saw the launch of the ‘Votes for Women’ placards, described by Oxford University as ‘one of the most memorable political slogans of all time’.

Due to her commitment to the cause, Annie was imprisoned a total of 13 times and took part in hunger strikes.

But when war broke out in 1914 she travelled the country with other senior members of the WSPU encouraging women and trade unions to support the war work.

After her death in 1953, a blue plaque was erected in her honour at Lees Brook Mill, in Oldham, where she began work as a child.

But the memorial statue aims to represent a more significant tribute to recognise her work and sacrifices in the fight for universal suffrage.

A celebration of her achievements will be held at Oldham library on Thursday, October 25 to commemorate 100 years of women’s suffrage.

A previously unknown letter from Annie to her sister Nell, written immediately after her release from prison, has also gone on display for the first time at Gallery Oldham.

It was recently located in Canada by Dr Lyndsey Jenkins, a historian from the University of Oxford who was researching the lives of the seven Kenney sisters.

In it Annie writes she was greeted by more than a hundred people and handed a bouquet upon her release from Strangeways.

“Manchester is alive I can assure you,” she says.