STATUE TO HONOUR KITTY WILKINSON

Kitty Wilkinson could become the first female to be commemorated by a statue in Liverpool’s famous St George’s Hall, which was built in 1842. City Councillors are to discuss whether Kitty’s statue should be placed in the hall to recognise her pioneering work in Liverpool post 1832.

Kitty rose to fame after arriving destitute in Liverpool from Ireland in 1794. When the cholera epidemic broke out in Liverpool in 1832 she started up the use of public washrooms to help inhabitants of the cramped parts of the city gain some protection from the disease.


Readers of the Scottie Press will be aware that in December 2000, Mike Kelly had his book about The Life and Times of Kitty Wilkinson published. Efforts are now ongoing to have this book reprinted as it is felt that the book is of great significance not only as a public health document but also to the pioneering history of Liverpool. If you would like to support Mike’s efforts please phone:
01704 576 747
or email
ronformby@scottiepress.org

KITTY WILKINSON HERITAGE CENTRE

Massive investment over the past ten years has transformed Liverpool's historic environment into a powerful force for regeneration. Liverpool is now a classic example of where historic buildings have a part to play in its regeneration, but there is a widening gap between the investment into buildings in the city centre and those historic buildings which are located in the districts of Liverpool. The net result is a focussing of attention within the half-mile radius of Liverpool city centre at the expense of allowing buildings outside that radius to fall into disrepair. It is also true to say that by concentrating on restoration of historic buildings in the city centre - with an eye to attracting tourist's money - whatever money is spent will not be to the immediate benefit of local economies wherein there are located just as historic and just as interesting and important buildings. Added to this is the definite danger that those tourists to Liverpool and sadly lots of Liverpool's future generations will come to believe that the history, heritage and culture of Liverpool, was all city centre based. In much the same way as lots of people world wide associate Liverpool with the Beatles and think Liverpool lacked any importance prior to the Fab Four's arrival of the music scene.