The Madge Turner Exhibition

A rolling exhibition telling the story of a Chichester suffragist — and travelling to schools, colleges and venues across the city.

Who was Madge Turner? Most people in Chichester have never heard of her — and that's exactly why this exhibition exists.

Ethel Margaret "Madge" Turner (1884–1948) was born in Chichester and dedicated her life to the suffrage movement and the rights of women and children. Our travelling exhibition tells her story through original research, archive photographs, newspaper cuttings and documents — taking visitors from her early life and first campaign work, through her time with the Women's Freedom League and her arrest and imprisonment, to her release and return to Chichester.

At the heart of the exhibition stands Kate Viner's maquette of Madge — the small bronze-coloured figure holding the "Dare to be Free" flag that has become a symbol of the wider Madge Turner Statue Appeal.

Where the exhibition has been

Since launching in 2025, the Madge Turner Exhibition has travelled to:

• New Park Community & Arts Association (2025)

• University of Chichester

• Chichester College

• Local secondary schools, including Bishop Luffa School

• Chichester Library (2026)

• West Sussex Record Office (2026) — featuring newly discovered newspaper photographs of Madge's group's arrest

Each new venue brings Madge's story to a new audience — and often turns up fresh material, as our research continues to uncover overlooked corners of her life.

What young people are saying

The exhibition has been especially powerful in schools. After hosting it at Bishop Luffa School, Year 8 students wrote:

"None of us knew about Madge Turner before the exhibition, and it's a local reminder of all the amazing women from history who have been overlooked... We also enjoyed looking at all the different types of sources that showed us what real historians get up to when they do their research."

"There aren't very many statues in Chichester, and to have one of a woman would be amazing — to show off the determination of our very own forgotten heroine who didn't just stay at home as she was expected to by society at the time."

Host the exhibition at your school, college or venue

We're always keen to bring Madge Turner's story to new audiences. If you represent a school, college, library, community centre, place of worship or local organisation and would like to host the exhibition, we'd love to hear from you.

The exhibition is self-contained on freestanding display boards and can be set up in a hall, foyer, corridor or library space. We can also arrange accompanying talks where possible.

See it for yourself

Keep an eye on our events page and social media for upcoming exhibition dates and venues, and follow the journey as Madge continues her tour of Chichester and beyond.