The legacy of one of Liverpool’s foremost political figures will to be celebrated with a public art installation in Greenbank Park.

Eleanor Rathbone, Liverpool’s first female councillor and campaigner for women’s rights, will be immortalised 70 years after her death with the city council commissioning the artwork to contribute to the ‘Remembering Eleanor Rathbone’ campaign.

Artists are being invited to express interest in the project at the former Rathbone family’s estate and the council hopes to make the appointment by the beginning of March with the artwork to be in place by the end of the year.

Greenbank councillor, Laura Robertson-Collins, says: “As an independent councillor and later as an independent MP, Eleanor has lacked a political party to champion her.

“We are proud of this campaigning Greenbank resident, and are delighted to commemorate 70 years since her death by commissioning an artwork in the park that was once part of her family’s estate.”

The artwork will cost an estimated £10,000 and funding will be met by a number of sources including public subscription.

Eleanor (1872 – 1946) was born in Greenbank House, which now forms part of the University of Liverpool’s estate, into a family of political standing as her father and grandfather were Liberal MPs in the city.

She attended Oxford University but was not allowed to graduate before going on to become the first woman to be elected to Liverpool City Council, representing Granby from 1909 – 1934.

In 1929 she was elected as an independent MP for the Combined Universities seat which she held until her death an was associated with campaigns for women’s rights and education, and for social justice.

Most notably, despite the opposition of MPs, she was responsible for the introduction of family allowances, now known as child benefits, to be paid directly to mothers.

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