A sculpture recognising some of Leeds most inspirational women was recently unveiled as part of efforts to redress the gender imbalance in public art in the city. The 5m (16ft) high artwork was created by Pippa Hale and comprises five steel ribbons engraved with the names of almost 400 women. Located outside Leeds Playhouse in Quarry Hill, “Ribbons” was officially revealed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP in October. Speaking to the BBC, she said the sculpture was a way to “celebrate the achievements of women in our city”.
A Leeds City Council sculpture review, published in 2020, highlighted the lack of diversity in public sculpture in Leeds and included Ribbons in an action plan to address this issue. Initial publicity about the project led to nearly 400 women from all walks of life being nominated.
Three of the women nominated and included in the final artwork are the Humble sisters, who have an important connection with the history of Leeds Cathedral and the Catholic Church in Leeds.
Anne Humble was the eldest daughter of Richard and Anne Humble and was born in County Durham in 1759. Along with her two sisters she inherited a considerable fortune from their brother George. Anne died in 1835. St Anne’s Church was dedicated in her honour and opened in October 1838. It became a Cathedral when the Diocese of Leeds was created in 1878.
Anne Humble’s younger sister Sarah was born at Middleton, to the south of Leeds in 1762. Along with her sister Grace she was the principal benefactor of St Anne’s Church in 1838. She also financed a new building for St Anne’s School in 1841, the year of her death. At the time it was said to be the finest school of its kind in Yorkshire.
Grace Humble was born at Middleton in 1773. After Sarah’s death in 1841 Grace left Leeds for County Durham. Before doing so she commissioned AWN Pugin to design a new high altar for St Anne’s, in Sarah’s memory. It was unveiled in 1842 and is now in the Lady Chapel of the present Leeds Cathedral, built in 1904. Like Anne and Sarah, Grace was buried at Holy Trinity Church in Rothwell.
For more information about the “Ribbons” project go to https://www.ribbons-sculpture-leeds.co.uk/
Information about the story of Leeds Cathedral can be found at https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/cathedral/history/
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