Martha Blog
September, 2025.
Update for our Martha Gunn supporters.
Thank you all so much for your support so far, and a massive thank you to all who have contributed funds towards commemorating Martha Gunn.
Here are some of the ideas we have thought of to commemorate Martha Gunn and the Bathers.
1. Firstly we are hoping to get a display board in the Brighton Fishing Museum, to tell the story of the bathers and their contributions to Brighton’s success as a tourist destination.
2. We have have thoughts to use Maggie Chau’s wonderful artwork below, on the side of a building in East Street, near to one of Martha’s addresses in East Street.
3. We have thoughts to put a stone plaque on the floor outside Martha’s earlier address in East Street, similar to the one’s they have on the pavements in Horsham.
4. A commemorative bench, in the Square on East Street, similar to the design of the one below except bigger and including family names.
5. The possibility of naming the Square in East Street, as ‘Martha Gunn Square.’
We still have a long way to go, and much fundraising to do, but we do think all of these ideas are achievable. We have so many of Martha’s family still here in Brighton, I’m sure between us all, we can get her and her fellow bathers, the commemoration they all deserve.
If you could share the ‘Go Fund Me’ page with your friends and family, and ask them to do the same, that would be fantastic.
September 2025
Maggie Chau- Illustrator.
Maggie Chau lives in Brighton . She was born in Canada and resided in various pockets of this world, Maggie is an Illustrator and draws inspiration for her art through life's every day people that she meets and finds a way to tell their stories and projects through any illustrative process. She is a supporter of the Martha Gunn Trust and has created this wonderful sketch for us . Thanks so much Maggie!
Her website link is Maggie Chau
31st July, 2025.
New Trustee!
Today we took the pleasure of inviting Debbie Wallis to become a trustee of the Martha Gunn Trust.
Debbie has joined us on the last few meet-ups and worked with us on the Charity Day in the Pavilion Grounds. She's very keen to get involved to help us raise funds.
Debbie is Martha Gunn's 5th x Great Grand-daughter.
28th June, 2025.
Annual Charity & Community Day
Pavilion Gardens.
The Martha Gunn Trustees were out in force on the 28th June at the Annual Charity & Community Day in the Royal Pavilion Gardens.
This event was originally started many years ago by garden cafe proprietor David Sewell, just one of several events he runs for the benefit of the community.
We thought it would be a good opportunity for us to take our place alongside the other community groups and charities and promote our Martha Gunn project.
It was a chilly and overcast day but that didn’t stop our dynamic and engaging trustees from enjoying the day.
We had a great response and there was much interest and many conversations about Martha Gunn and the other folk who helped shaped Brighton into what it has become today.
We were also delighted to have the Mayor make a point of coming over to say hello and offer words of support and encouragement.
A great band ‘Unkempt’ and a Ukrainian Choir kept us entertained through the day.
All in all it was a very successful day for us, we raised £231 through book selling and donations, but we also got some incredible feedback and support.
Keep a lookout for further events as we have exciting plans for the next 12 months. You may even want to come and help or just say hello, either way we’d love to see you. Check our contact details.
You can’t miss us, we now have a lovely new banner! (see pic).
Ian Barnett.
2nd, May, 2025.
Paying our respects to Martha Gunn on the anniversary of her death 210 years ago. Present were relatives of Martha including direct descendants.
March 2025
Our very first Martha Gunn Tour.
Starts March 19th, 2025
All proceeds go towards the Martha Gunn Trust.
Join us on a stroll around Pool Valley and the Lanes where we discuss Martha Gunn and her life in Brighton. Where did she really live? Who were her family? What was Brighton like during her lifetime?
The tour begins and ends in Pool Valley and lasts just over an hour.
See you there!
March 8th, 2025.
Happy international Women's Day.
Our very own Grandmother of Brighton! Who better to chat about on this day?
13th December. Lantern Theatre.
Delighted to meet the cast of Brighton Theatre's "Martha Gunn" , Faynia Williams and Richard Crane at the read through of the exciting new play. It will be a brilliant production and a lovely contribution to celebrating our Martha!
We were interviewed for Latest TV about our plans and hope to commemorate Martha Gunn.
October 24th, 2024
A play about Martha Gunn, written by Richard Crane & directed by Faynia Williams is in the making.
Friday 28th June, 2024.
St Nicholas Church, Brighton.
Paying our respects to Martha Gunn and her family.
Three of the Martha Gunn Trustees, Gaynor Wingham, Carol Homewood and John Wingham (related to Martha) with another relation of Martha Gunn, Charlie Homewood.
Flowers from Gunn's the Florist, Castle Square, Brighton. (direct descendants of Martha Gunn)
