Black Mary Project
"The Black Mary Project is a wonderfully imaginative intervention into remembering lost histories through community activities and creating new mythologies. The Black Mary statue itself is a gorgeous work of art - beautiful, strong, grounded and emanating a palpable healing energy. It is a necessary and powerful addition to London’s public statues and shifts the gaze onto a previously marginalised historical figure."
Bernardine Evaristo
What is The Black Mary Project?
A project bringing together global-majority artists and communities to create an imaginative healing garden and festival centreing wellness, new artistic commissions, talks and music. The Project is inspired by Mary Woolaston aka Black Mary who, legend has it, kept a healing well in 17th Century Kings Cross. Due to the lack of care in recording historic working-class Black lives, Mary Woolaston remains a shadowy figure although she is clearly mentioned in some historic sources. Guided by Artistic Director Gaylene Gould, artists and the community from Calthorpe Community Gardens will work together to invoke Mary's memory and reimagine her well, blurring speculative fiction, historic fact and contemporary stories.
Why now?
At one time, London boasted its own public healing wells and spas, places where the rich and poor could rest, play and get well together. The memory of such places have long been forgotten at a time when we need public healing spaces more than ever. The pandemic claimed thousands of lives and now the survivors face punishing economic realities. The Black Mary Project is designed to explore what such a space might look for London drawing on the rich healing wisdoms that the global people of this city carry.
​
What will we be able to see and do and when?
On June 28th 2025 a new permanent artwork will be unveiled at Calthorpe Community Garden in honour of Mary Wollaston as part of the one-day Black Mary’s Pleasure Garden Festival.
The stone sculpture is created by carver Marcia Bennett-Male, the only Black woman stone carver in the UK. The artwork has been supported by the Mayor of London Untold Stories Fund,
​
The Black Mary’s Pleasure Garden festival will honour the history of Pleasure Gardens that grew up around the old healing wells by imagining one that Mary might have held.
Led by Black and global majority contemporary artists and the community, the Pleasure Garden will bring people together for connecting conversations, play, reflection, dancing and fun.
A sequence of rituals, performances, workshops, care spaces, food, dancing and an immersive installation, will bring us together as a community.
​
From September 2025 the Black Mary Healing Tour led by community researcher Emanuela Aru will continue. This special tour will introduce participants to Mary's landscape as well as to each other.​
Black Mary's Pleasure Garden
Getting there
Calthorpe Community Gardens
By Public Transport
Tube:
• King’s Cross St. Pancras (Victoria, Northern, Piccadilly, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines) – 15-minute walk
• Russell Square (Piccadilly Line) – 20-minute walk
• Chancery Lane (Central Line) – 20-minute walk
Bus:
• Bus 46 – Alight at St Chad’s Street (Stop D) from King’s Cross, then walk 2 mins
• Other nearby buses: 17, 45, 63, 91, 259, 390 (all stop within walking distance)
Train:
• King’s Cross, St Pancras International, and Farringdon are the nearest mainline stations.
By Bike
There are bike racks available outside the garden. Santander Cycle docking stations are nearby, including:
• Birkenhead Street
• Argyle Street
• Guilford Street
By Car
Nearest Car Park:
• Britannia Street Euro Car Park
15–27 Britannia St, London WC1X 9BP
On-Street Parking:
• Heathcote Street (opposite Calthorpe):
• Free after 1:30pm
• Pay-and-display before 1:30pm
Important – Congestion Charge (Saturday only):
Calthorpe Community Garden falls within the London Congestion Charge Zone. On Saturdays, the charge applies between 12:00 and 18:00. Please plan your journey accordingly if driving during this time.
The area is also within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which is active daily. Check your vehicle’s compliance before travel.
Let us know if you need help planning your visit—and don’t forget to download the full schedule and access plan from the website!
Mary's home
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
On Saturday June 28th, an embracing community gathered at Calthorpe Community Garden for the unveiling of the new Mary Woolaston statue.
At 2.30pm Marcia Bennett-Male’s Mary Woolaston statue was finally unveiled. Standing at 160cm tall and hand carved from St Bees sandstone by the UK’s only classically trained Black woman stone carver, Mary adds an arresting, restful presence to the gardens.
Musicians Las Witchas! led the large crowd in song in a procession down into the garden. The statue was cloaked in a bespoke textile created by Gaylene from symbols gathered from the local community. Cllr Sandra Francis, Camden Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs, Young People and Culture, and Annika Miller-Jones, founder of Calthorpe, unveiled Mary and the statue was greeted with cheers, claps and song.
You can now visit the Mary Woolaston sculpture between 10-6pm Monday to Saturday at Calthorpe Community Garden. Why not offer a silent thank you to one of your own well keepers or caregivers while you’re there.
​
"Really, really beautiful. Such a striking sculpture"
“When my 7 year old saw Mary he automatically bowed! She's got power!"
Black Mary's Pleasure Garden
Black Mary’s Pleasure Garden followed the unveiling. 768 people participated in a special art garden party for all the family which connected people and celebrated community. The event led by over 20 artists, gardeners, and facilitators featured workshops, games, performances and rituals that drew people together and offered joyful, well-being activities..
Says Lead Artist Gaylene Gould: “We hoped to create a new environment for people of all ages, ethnicities, and abilities to connect in ways that are not normally possible in public space. Black Mary’s Pleasure Garden proved that it is possible and precisely what many of us need. I hope we take this spirit of generosity back out into a world that desperately needs healing.”
"Such a beautifully curated event filled with love. Community and connection at its best with Mary standing proud at the heart of it all"
“An outstanding, inspiring and engaging public history event. A joyous and beautifully designed celebration that shared the fruits of several years of sustained research and creative engagement with the local community.”
“Hope in a time of despair, community in a time of fear. Thank you!”
What's next for Mary?
Thirst, Welcome Collection Symposium - Workshops and Healing Tours
20th and 21st September
The Black Mary Project will be featured during the Wellcome Collection’s symposium for the Thirst exhibition. Gaylene will be speaking on a panel and there’ll be drop-in workshops and two special Black Mary Healing Tour taking place.
Black Mary Residency - Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration: June 2026
Next year Gaylene will undertake a month-long residency at a new arts centre situated on the site of the New River Head, London’s first water station. This residency will focus on the healing well as a site for social, political and cultural transformation.
Black Mary Healing Tours
Several special walking tours that merge history, speculation and shared reflection will take place in the Autumn. The event was devised during The Black Mary Project and is co-led by community researcher Emanuela Aru.
Press
The Standard
Westminster Extra
EC1 Echo
The Organ
BBC Radio London
The Voice
The Londonist
Thank you
