The idea
The Friends of Margravine Cemetery wish to establish a memorial commemorating the life and work of Jeanne Deroin.
Jeanne Deroin was a pioneering feminist, educator and a member of William Morris’s circle in Hammersmith. Her advocacy earned her an international reputation. She was an important influence on the suffragette movement, extensively writing and editing feminist works.
Deroin was well-known for her journalism on behalf of women’s equality and a leading organiser for the Co-operative Workers Movement. She was the first woman to stand for election to public office in France in 1849. Subsequently, she was arrested and sentenced for political conspiracy against the government. When Louis Napoleon became Emperor of the 2nd Empire, fearing re-arrest and exile to a penal colony, Deroin fled to London in 1852.
In Hammersmith, Deroin taught local French émigré children. She lived at 58 Cobbold Rd where she died. She was buried in an unmarked grave in Margravine Cemetery in 1894.
What we'll deliver
- Memorial Headstone for Jeanne Deroin
- Community Opening Ceremony
Why it's a great idea
In Hammersmith, Deroin continued her advocacy for equal rights as editor of L’Almanach des Femmes, an international journal which was published in French and English from London. She was also an active member of the Socialist League, later the Hammersmith Socialist Society.
A memorial gravestone for Jeanne Deroin will raise awareness of her legacy and inspire future generations to continue championing equal rights for all. A QR code will direct visitors to a website which expands upon Deroin’s life and work.
In the historic setting of Margravine Cemetery, the memorial will serve as a lasting site of remembrance and education accessible to the local community, schools, and societies interested in Jeanne Deroin and her role in the international women's rights movement.
This memorial will help to increase community engagement with the rich cultural heritage of Hammersmith & Fulham.
We have already raised £1,600 of the £2,700 needed to commission the headstone.
Steps to get it done
- Raise necessary funds
- Commissioning Headstone
- Installing Headstone
- Community Opening Ceremony
