Mapping Monuments to Women Launch

All over Scotland there are many types of memorials, large and small, commemorating the lives and achievements of women. The stories behind some names are well known; others have been forgotten. All the women have contributed in some way to the life of the country we know today.

In 2011, GWL worked with Women’s History Scotland and Girlguiding Scotland on The Big Name Hunt, encouraging girls and young women to explore their local area, record memorials to women and uncover their stories. The Women of Scotland website was set up to record this information and make it available to all. The Big Name Hunt is now drawing to a close, but many memorials to women remain undocumented, and the website is being opened up to allow everyone to contribute.Perhaps you know of a memorial to a woman in your area that hasn’t been marked on our map? Or maybe you know the story behind a name?

On Saturday 10th March, we want women across Scotland to go out and find the monuments, landmarks, street names and buildings that mark the lives and achievements of women (whether famous, humble or notorious) who have helped to shape Scotland.

GWL staff, volunteers and some of our Women Make History detectives will be on hand and online to help groups locate memorials, with documentation and inputting into the website. Visit the Women of Scotland website in March to find out more about how you can get involved.