Mary Seacole exhibition to open at St George’s Hall celebrating a pioneer of care

A free public exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Mary Seacole will open at St George’s Hall this February, shining a light on one of history’s most important and overlooked figures in healthcare.

Titled Mary Seacole: A Figure of Care, the exhibition will run from 6 to 28 February 2026 and will be open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Visitors will be able to see a series of sculptural maquettes created during the development of a permanent marble statue of Mary Seacole, which is set to be installed in the Great Hall.

When complete, the statue will become the first monument to a Black woman ever placed inside the Great Hall of St George’s Hall, marking a significant moment for Liverpool and for representation in civic spaces.

The maquettes on display offer a rare insight into the creative process behind a major public artwork, showing how the statue has evolved from early concepts into a powerful tribute to the pioneering nurse, healer and humanitarian.

The exhibition forms part of the Mary Seacole Statue Campaign, led by St George’s Hall Charitable Trust and fully endorsed by the Mary Seacole Trust. The campaign aims to permanently honour Seacole’s contribution to medical history, placing her alongside Catherine “Kitty” Wilkinson, whose statue was installed in the Hall in 2012.

The project reflects the Trust’s wider commitment to increasing the visibility of women in St George’s Hall, alongside ongoing work to protect and restore the building’s historic features, including the Minton tiles and the Willis organ.

Claire Dove OBE, Chair of St George’s Hall Charitable Trust, said the exhibition represents an important step in recognising Seacole’s legacy.

She said: “Mary Seacole, who was voted the Greatest Black Briton in a BBC poll, was highly respected for her frontline work during the Crimean War and remains a powerful symbol of compassion, resilience and determination.

“The installation of her statue reflects our commitment to representing women in public spaces. With this addition, St George’s Hall will become the first civic building in the country to feature statues of two women, and the first to honour a Black woman. We hope people will support us in helping to make history.”

The exhibition is free to attend and open to all. Donations of any size to the Mary Seacole Statue Campaign will help bring the permanent statue to life.

More information about the exhibition and the campaign can be found here.

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