First statue of woman on Royal Mile set to be approved

A controversial statue of a historic Edinburgh doctor is set to be approved by councillors for construction on the Royal Mile.

Dr Elsie Inglis worked to set up a maternity hospital for poor women in George Square and carried out other work to improve conditions for poor women in Edinburgh.

She later worked to set up all-women’s hospitals in southern and eastern Europe to treat injured soldiers in the First World War.

Its construction was announced in 2021 – and if built, it would be the first statue of a woman on the Royal Mile.

However, there have been complaints about the statue’s design process, with many questioning why it was not designed by a woman.

And others have said the statue should include a plaque that explains much of her family’s wealth was drawn from the slave trade.

Dr Elsie Inglis is set to be honoured LDRS

Some 408 letters of support were received on the planning application – alongside 237 of objection.

A report to councillors by officers recommends that planning permission be granted, with a condition to decrease the size of the plinth on which the statue would stand.

If built as designed, the statue would be of Dr Inglis in fatigues, representing the Scottish Women’s Hospitals service she founded.

Professor Alexander Stoddart, who also designed statues of Adam Smith and David Hume on the Royal Mile, was tasked with designing it.

It would be made with bronze, and be located on the roadway, on the north of the road about 40 metres west along High Street from Hunter Square.

Councillors will consider the application on Wednesday, October 1.