Statue plan to honour 19th Century computing pioneer

Ada Lovelace lived in Kirkby Mallory, near Hinckley, when she was a child

Plans have been drawn up to celebrate gifted 19th Century mathematician Ada Lovelace in the town near to where she lived as a child.

Lovelace, the daughter of romantic poet Lord Byron, has been widely described as the world's first computer programmer, because of her work with inventor Charles Babbage on his idea for an "analytical engine" in the 1800s.

She was born in 1815 in London, but her childhood home was the now-demolished Kirkby Mallory Hall, some five miles (8km) from Hinckley in Leicestershire.

A 2.5m (8ft 2in) bronze statue of her is currently being cast and has been earmarked for a spot on the town's Lower Bond Street.

A planning application for the sculpture has been submitted by the Ada Lovelace in Hinckley Community Interest Company.

If approved, the statue would be placed on a stone plinth outside the Hinckley campus of the North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College.

The Hinckley statue would be based on a portrait which used to hang in Downing Street

Project leader Stan Rooney said the move was intended to celebrate Lovelace's links to the area and the location, outside the college, had been chosen to celebrate her contribution to education and maths in particular.

"We know Ada would visit Hinckley often as a child and would recognise some of the buildings that still stand today in that area," he said.

"She grew up to be such a celebrated and influential figure.

"Hinckley was known for its hosiery industry, but that has all but disappeared, and its heritage is now a bit faceless.

"We hope the statue will help give the town another identity."

Privately funded

Mr Rooney added: "Ada foresaw so much of the technology that came after her life.

"She was very young when she died, just 36.

"She lived longer at Kirkby Mallory than anywhere else during her short life, so it is only fitting that this exceptional lady, who is celebrated around the world, is finally honoured in her childhood hometown.

"The statue is being cast in Basingstoke as we speak."

The mould has already been used to cast a statue of her, commissioned by property developers, for a building in Westminster in London.

"We are very lucky the sculptor has agreed to allow us to use the mould which keeps the costs down," he said.

Mr Rooney said the project was entirely privately funded.

He said the community interest company had raised £50,000 so far and was hoping to raise a further £50,000 through crowdfunding.

The council is expected to make a decision on the planning application in September.