Barbara Castle statue unveiled in Jubilee Square

Have you seen the incredible new statue of Baroness Barbara Castle?

Thank you to all those who attended the unveiling of the impressive statue on Saturday, created by sculptor Sam Holland.

Barbara’s reveal meant the national spotlight was shining on Blackburn this weekend, with likes of the BBC, ITV and The Guardian covering the event!

The former MP for Blackburn, now takes pride of place striding purposefully across Jubilee Square – a location she would have often passed on her constituency business.

Hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire presenter Sharon Hartley, the unveiling was attended by figures and residents who have been impacted by Barbara’s achievements and wanted to celebrate her inspiring work.

Barbara Castle, who served as Blackburn MP from 1945-1979, was instrumental in the Equal Pay Act and championing women’s rights. She also introduced the Carer’s Allowance, as well as road safety legislation that led to the introduction of seatbelts and breathalyser test.

The bronze statue was unveiled by the Rt Hon Jack Straw and Shadow Chancellor Angela Rayner, who both gave impassioned speeches on the influence and legacy of Barbara Castle, alongside Kate Hollern MP and Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Cllr Mohammed Khan.

During the speeches, members of Blackburn Youth Zone and One Voice also lead a special performance walk around Blackburn Town Centre, featuring placards highlighting the achievements of Barbara.

The event ended with a speech from Cllr Maureen Bateson, who worked closely with Barbara during her time as MP, and a special screening of Made in Dagenham at Reel Cinema, which features Miranda Richardson as Barbara Castle.

The unveiling comes just days after what would have been Barbara’s 111^th birthday.

Cllr Maureen Bateson said:

Barbara Castle was a trailblazer for women everywhere. She also represents all that’s best about Blackburn, real grit and determination, succeeding often against the odds.

We have such a rich history in both Blackburn and Darwen and yet we don’t often hear about the role women like Barbara Castle played.

“The statue helps us honour all that she did and will ensure that her memory lives on – inspiring future generations.

We hope it will draw visitors to the town and also address the distinct lack of statues of inspirational women in the county and right across the country while celebrating the area’s rich heritage.

As a town we have ensured the name of Barbara Castle and all she did and stood for will long remain.

Let’s hope her legacy of fairness, true grit and determination encourages and inspires current and future generations of our borough.

Rt Hon Jack Straw said:

We wanted to have a memorial statue of her, to remind everybody of the contributions she made to the borough.

Barbara had to fight like crazy for recognition as a woman and it was tough, but she also was able to secure changes in the law like the Equal Pay Act.

“There were many other things she did including the breathalyser, which caused a huge flurry, and seatbelts. All this stuff we just take for granted made the roads safer – and she did it.

To find out more about the statue and Barbara, follow the interactive Barbara Castle QR trail on the Experience Blackburn app.

The statue has been funded mainly by individuals and organisations both locally and nationally, with additional open space contributions from a recent private housing development in the town centre.

You can listen to a clip from Barbara’s November 1990 interview on BBC’s Desert Island Discs below. Listen to the full episode via BBC’s website here.