Exhibition celebrating 150 years since the University extension movement came to Southport

This exhibition celebrates 150 years since the University Extension Movement came to Southport and Birkdale. In Victorian times, many towns and cities had University Extension Societies, but Southport is now the only survivor. The organisation has a healthy membership, an optimistic future and a past of which they are very proud.

This unique exhibition is supported by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and researched and produced by the SUES Committee. They hope it provides an opportunity for staff, students and visitors, to better understand this important movement.

The organisation was created to enable people to experience university teaching that they had not been able to access before, simply because they were women or poor or uneducated.

Anne Clough who has a section of the main building and halls of residence at Edge Hill named in honour of her contribution to higher education and the history of education in Lancashire, is one of those featured in the exhibition. Nationally, she was responsible with Josephine Butler for bringing about change. They worked together in the North of England Council for Promoting the Higher Education of Women to raise the status of governesses and female teachers to that of a profession. Both were instrumental in pushing the University of Cambridge authorities to open its teaching to women.