Mather & Co’s movement with the Pankhurst Centre

Leading exhibition designers, Mather & Co, have been appointed to develop a new permanent exhibition on the Pankhurst family at their former home, 62 Nelson Street in Manchester, now known as the Pankhurst Centre. This building is an iconic site for women’s activism, past, present, and future.

From 1898 to 1907, 62 Nelson Street was home to Emmeline Pankhurst and her family, and is where the first meeting of the suffragette movement took place. It’s where leading campaigners in the votes for women movement would gather and where Emmeline would first utter the call for action, “Deeds Not Words”.

Leanne Clydesdale, Project Designer at Mather & Co said: “I personally feel incredibly privileged to be part of the team working with the Pankhurst Centre on this new interpretation. The significance of this building not only in the story of the Pankhurst family and their role in the continuing campaign for women’s rights and freedoms, but also in the socio-political history of Manchester cannot be underrepresented. This building has an important story to tell and we hope to inspire debate and thought within its walls for many years to come.”

This project aims to inspire young audiences with the history of the suffragette movement and to empower the next generation to make change in the world we live in today. The exhibition will showcase the Pankhurst family’s achievements to visitors in new and engaging ways. The project has been made possible thanks to funding from AIM Biffa Award History Makers, as part of the Landfill Communities Fund.

Sarah Clarke, Managing Director at Mather & Co added: “The Pankhurst Centre is the only site dedicated to telling the story of women’s fight for the right to vote. I am proud of the fact The Pankhurst Centre acknowledged the strong female presence in our company at all levels of the business – which feels very empowering!”

Tessa Chynoweth, Curator of the Pankhurst Centre, said: “We are extremely grateful to our funders AIM Biffa Award History Makers for supporting us in this project.  At Home with the Pankhurst Family will unlock the story of this unique family and highlight the significance this building has played in the history of women’s suffrage and its role in inspiring future changemakers.  Mather & Co are working alongside us and our volunteers to create what will be a very special visitor experience.  For the Pankhurst Trust this is a vital step forward in our vision to ultimately see the entire building conserved and restored.”

The completion of At Home with the Pankhurst Family will mark the reopening of the Pankhurst Centre, which has been closed due to the impact of Covid-19, and is due to take place in summer 2021.

For further information on the Pankhurst Trust visit PankhurstTrust.org