The Anne Lister Monument

These three sculptures are connected by a dry stone wall created by Serena Cattaneo. She’s based in Liguria too but originally comes from Lombardia. She’s a professional master dry stone waller, and making more visible and popular amongst women this job and its art is a crucial matter for her. “The dry stone wall we have raised in this monument was created by using stones donated by Simon Lamb, who had them on his land and were part of another dry stone wall, and who knows to how many others before. They have a past, and you can see layers of history in them since a new stone would be clear and these are almost black. Their blackening started likely in Anne Lister’s years, when these valleys started being scattered with industrial chimneys, thus affecting the air quality”. Visitors who will examine the monument more carefully will find some messages inspired by Anne Lister also between these stones, placed by Serena and the other WISA members who created this piece.

“The final result is very faithful to the original idea we had when we started the work, but the atmosphere here at Shibden Hall is special. Creating this piece dedicated to Anne Lister while actually being in her home really enriched the original concept, and inspired some details that could only be born here, and with this group of people. As an example, the pocket watch signs 5.06 (or, as Ann would write, 5 6/..), and it is a tribute to the 6 people involved in the project since the beginning and to the 5 of them who have been working at the monument here at Shibden Hall.”

Both Antonela Tiozzo and Serena Cattaneo are founding members of WISA - Women In Stone Alliance, an international association of women who made stoneworking more than just their job: the expression, their art, their passion. During the creation of the Anne Lister Monument at Shibden Hall, WISA also carried out a permanent workshop that lasted about three weeks and was attended by 36 women who have been introduced and trained in stone craftsmanship by the WISA members who gathered in Halifax: besides Antonella and Serena there were also Emma Knowles (Australia), Louise Price (Ireland), Hilary Dees (USA), while Wendy Gillet couldn’t be here from Australia, although she's been on board ever since the whole project of this monument started.

The Anne Lister Monument was created by WISA - Women In Stone Alliance between August and September 2022, thanks to the support of Calderdale Council, David Griffiths (who was in charge for the design and project management), and Simon Lumb (who donated the old stones for the wall and helped the construction), while the three monoliths were donated by Traditional Stone, Wakefield.

Written by Lucia Falzari

Useful links:

WISA - Women In Stone Alliance
Antonella Tiozzo's website
Traditional Stone