The Pilgrim Woman Project

During 2019 Rachel undertook a series of artist residencies to research an idea for a new sculpture as part of the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower sailing in 1620. Beginning in Nottingham Industrial Museum, she then travelled to America onboard a working freight ship mirroring the journeys of the Mayflower travellers 400 years ago. After spending time at Peabody Museum, Harvard University she then travelled to Provincetown to take up a two week residency at the Pilgrim Monument and Museum.

The Pilgrim Woman sculptures are a series of bronze women, inspired by the journeys of the Seperatists between 1607 - 1620 as they fled from religious persecution. Many of these men, women and children lived in towns and villages in North Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Rachel followed their journeys which ultimately led them to cross the Atlantic onboard the Mayflower in 1620.

Pilgrim Woman: Gainsborough stands by the waters edge of the River Trent in Gainsborough, measuring 50cm tall she sits upon a plinth of local stone which reads ‘Steering our future, Informed by the past’.

Pilgrim Woman: Doncaster stands an impressive 200cm tall and features the decorative woven panel by Rachel Carter on her Kirtle and the weavings of 42 local women decorating her skirt.

Pilgrim Woman: Boston features two bound women and is inspired by the story of families arrested and held in Boston jail in the early 17th century. The sculpture was featured in an exhibition at the Collection Museum, Lincolnshire 2021 before being installed in Boston adjacent to St Botolphs Church.