Located in Lawnswood Cemetery in Leeds is a Grade II listed monument dedicated to the Late Ethel Preston. Her grave is like no other seen, with a life-size made of white Italian marble statue which resembles just how Ethel would have looked. The statue represents her height, clothes, and even her expression as she waits by a slightly ajar door.

Her husband Walter Preston paid a lot of money for her statue and exact replica of their door to be erected in Lawnswood cemetery. Ethel was only 50 years old when she passed in 1911, and her husband wanted her to have the very best. However, suspicions arose what the true meaning of the monument meant when Walter married their much younger housekeeper less than a year after she passed.

Many believe the statue’s expression represents Ethel as a wife awaiting an unfaithful husband to return home many speculate that Walter was very much the womaniser and the grand gesture of the monument dictated to her is nothing more than a act of guilt. Others believe the statue is nothing more than Ethel awaiting her husbands return from work each evening.

Whatever Walter did or did not do, we will never know. The only two people who truly knew how their marriage truly was is Ethel and Walter.

Stood at the grave it did not feel it had been erected from guilt, I feel it could very much be a wife simply awaiting her husband’s return to her but not because he had been unfaithful. Why would Walter admit in such a huge way his unfaithfulness to his wife so publicly during times when people were so judgemental? I can not see him doing so personally even if he was indeed a womaniser. I think the fact he married his house keeper so soon after does him no favours, but who are we to judge without facts! There is a certain sadness around it though I have to admit.

This leads me on to another possible meaning behind statue and that it could be that it is simply Ethel awaiting for Walter to join her in the afterlife and the door being ajar represents its left open for his return to her. Her expression of sadness could be her longing for their reunion.

Its Popularity!

Back in 1913, hundreds of people flocked to see Ethel at the Gate when it was erected because it was such a rare occurence for this kind of memorial to happen in Yorkshire. The arrival of these people had to be regulated with the addition of special trams and refreshments. People were clearly captivated and even though Ethel at the Gate does not draw the same crowds now days compared to then – she remains one of the most cherished and pondered over memorials in England