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Notes
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The fishwives of Tynemouth have a special place in local history, and it was felt that there was no adequate memorial to them in South Shields.
Title
Dolly Peel (1782–1857)
Date
1987
Medium
cement
Measurements
H 180 x W (?) x D (?) cm;
Plinth: H 210 x W 90 x D 90 cm
Accession number
NE33_GL_S005
Acquisition method
commissioned by Reg Peel
Work type
Statue
Owner
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
Work status
extant
Unveiling date
29th April 1987
Access
at all times
Signature/marks description
slate panel embedded near the hem of her dress on left rear side etched: SCULPTOR / B GOFTON
Inscription description
front and rear metal plates: (the life story of Dolly Peel); lettering on metal plates on left and right sides of pedestal: DOLLY / PEEL / 1782-1857 / THIS STATUE / WAS UNVEILED / BY / Cllr. GLADYS/ HOBSON / ON / 29th APRIL / 1987; story plaque: DOROTHY "DOLLY" PEEL A FAMOUS / SOUTH SHIELDS CHARACTER WAS BORN IN 1782 AND WORKED IN THE TOWN AS A FISHWIFE. THIS WAS ONLY HER OFFICIAL OCCUPATION, HOWEVER, FOR SHE ALSO WAS A / NOTORIOUS SMUGGLER OF BRANDY,TOBACCO, / CIGARS, LACE AND PERFUME./ALWAYS A DETERMINED FIGHTER AGAINST THE PRESSGANG, SHE WAS SAID TO HAVE HIDDEN FUGITIVES BENEATH HER VAST PETTICOATS UNTIL THE COAST WAS CLEAR. / WHEN HER HUSBAND WAS CAUGHT BY THE GANG / DOLLY FOLLOWED HIM TO SEA AND SERVED IN THE SHIPS "COCKPIT" THE PART OF THE SHIP WHERE CRUDE SURGERY WAS PERFORMED ON WOUNDED SAILORS. DOLLYS WARTIME NURSING PRECEEDED FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE BY HALF A CENTURY. THERE WAS ANOTHER SIDE TO DOLLY,/ HOWEVER, SHE WAS A WOMAN OF GREAT / WIT AND HUMOUR AND WOULD ENTERTAIN / CROWDS IN THE MARKET PLACE, WAVING A /BOX OF PILLS AND WICKEDLY IMMITATING THE / SALES PATTER OF THE QUACK DOCTORS, HER / GIFTS ALSO RAN TO VERSE, SHE COMPOSED A /CONGRATULATORY POEM TO ROBERT INGHAM /WHEN HE BECAME M.P. TO SOUTH SHIELDS IN 1837. / DOLLY PEEL DIED IN 1857, AT THE AGE / OF 75 AFTER A BAD ATTACK OF BRONCHITIS. / STORIES AND LEGENDS ABOUT HER PERSIST / TO THIS DAY AMONGST HER DECENDENTS.
