A tree commemorating the suffragette who ran out in front of the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby 100 years ago has been planted at the hospital where she died.

The maple tree, a tribute to Emily Davison, was planted on Saturday at the Old Cottage Hospital, in Alexandra Road, Epsom, where she died four days after being hit by the horse, Anmer.

The tree, donated by the Epsom and Ewell Tree Advisory Board (EETAB), was planted a century to the day after her death.

The event was attended by Philippa Bilton, a descendant of Davison, the mayor of Epsom and Ewell Councillor Colin Taylor and Irene Cockcroft, historian and curator of the Dying for the Vote exhibition, examining the Suffragette movement, at Bourne Hall, in Spring Street, Ewell.

Philippa Bilton, Davison’s first cousin three times removed, said she felt "quite tearful".

She said: "Out of everything that I have been doing, this is the one that is the most poignant actually - because it’s here where she died."

Of the recent Channel 4 documentary, Secrets of a Suffragette, presented by Clare Balding, Ms Bilton said her family were "extremely pleased" about the new footage, which showed "without doubt" that Davison did not try to commit suicide.

The mayor said Davison was responsible for "a complete sea change in attitudes" and deserved recognition.

He said: "I think it’s really good that the memory of Emily Davison is being recognised in this way because, apart from a small plaque that was put up here some years ago, only in recent years has she been getting the recognition that she deserves.

"At the time she did her famous act that led to her death, she was treated as a common criminal.

"But along with other things, it did lead to a complete change where women were taken seriously, given the vote with men equally, and society has changed.

"Whatever she intended, some people think she was trying to commit suicide or killed accidentally, I believe she was trying to pin her colours onto the horse and not realising the speed of the horse would drag her over.

"Whatever she did she was putting her life on the line. We do try and support her nowadays - but it wasn’t like that at the time."

Dr Richard Cowlard, of the Integrated Care Partnership, said that although a blue plaque had been put up for her at the hospital 10 years ago, he felt "proud to honour our history and host the event."

Mike Ford, EETAB chairman, said the planting of a tree as a living memorial to Davison was a "fitting tribute to a courageous and pioneering campaigner of her time."

He said: "We need trees for future generations of people in this country - just as 100 years ago Britain needed brave people like Emily Davison to stand up and fight for voting rights for women that we take for granted today.

"She rightly deserves a special place in Epsom’s history."

Historian Irene Cockroft urged people to look at the tree when they drive past and reflect on the suffragettes’ sacrifice and suffering.

She said: "They had to do something a little bit daring in order to get our attention, get the public’s attention, to try to influence our big opinions, and of course they did that so the media would think it was worth publishing, which they did. But they turned them into the women you loved to hate."

Phil Woods and Charly Surry, from Tadworth, came along wearing their own handmade ‘votes for women’ rosettes.

Ms Surry said: "We came along to show our support today. We think it’s very important. I’m into women’s history - and she’s a big part of that.

"I think the tree is absolutely fantastic. In 100 years it will be fully grown and hopefully they’ll be people coming to see it, coming to read the plaque.

"I think it’s a bit more of a permanent memorial to her. I’m really pleased this has been organised and there’s quite a lot of people here, of all kinds of generations, which is interesting."

Sarah Dewing, who used to run the Epsom Contemporary Artist Network, has been helping Epsom Council with plans to put up a piece of public art on an Epsom Downs roundabout next year in memory of Davison and the struggle of women historically.

She said: "The aim is not just to commemorate Emily Davison, but to recognise all those women in history - or others who perhaps have not been recognised for the achievements they have made in order to enable women today, young and old, to enjoy the rights that they do.

"It’s really worthwhile and I think hopefully it will be something we can be proud of."

The Dying for the Vote exhibition at Bourne Hall runs until the end of July.

Epsom Council is expected to announce the winning piece of public art in the next five weeks.