A famous suffragette is to be commemorated at Egham's Royal Holloway College - which is naming its new library and student services centre after her.

The new centre at Royal Holloway, University of London will be called the Emily Wilding Davison Building. After a passionate campaign by students, staff and alumni to help choose the name, the university will honour one of Britain’s most famous suffragettes - who was also a Royal Holloway alumna.

The Emily Wilding Davison Building situated opposite Royal Holloway’s iconic Founder’s Building will provide 21st century study, research and community facilities. It will encompass a state-of-the-art library, archive, careers and support services, as well as event and exhibition spaces for students, staff, visitors and the local community - all with the aim of supporting individuals to succeed.

Principal of Royal Holloway Professor Paul Layzell said: “I am proud to put Emily’s name to our new Library and Student Services Centre, knowing that she was one of the first women to be able to pursue a university education here at Royal Holloway long before many other institutions opened their doors to women.”

Nearly 1,000 students, staff and alumni helped to choose the name by supporting and sharing their favourite from a list of four prominent alumna. Aside from Emily, author George Eliot, pioneer Hilda Martindale and abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond were all put forward as potential names, being social reformers and former Royal Holloway students.

Natasha Barrett, President of Royal Holloway Students’ Union said: “It’s fantastic that we can name this building after Emily as she embodies a principle that our founders also stood for - equality. Their egalitarian spirit lives on in our community today where we believe in supporting every individual to ensure that they can succeed no matter gender or background.”

“We are a community that helps students to become independently minded, socially responsible leaders. The Emily Wilding Davison Building will provide space, resource and inspiration for our students, and the community beyond.”

The opening of the Emily Wilding Davison Building will be marked by a community celebration, details of which will be shared later this spring.