Turing Before Bletchley

An exhibition follows Alan Turing’s early school years in Sherborne through photographs, reports, letters and manuscripts, with hands-on puzzles, chess and Go.

Photographs, school reports, correspondence and rarely seen manuscripts tell the story of Alan Turing as a pupil in Sherborne from 1926 to 1931. Visitors can also try chess, Go, puzzles, patterns and codebreaking activities that invite playful problem-solving. The exhibition is in the Art Room and runs from 10 October 2026 to 3 January 2027. Entry is free. The Sherborne’s public hours are shorter on Sundays and bank holidays, and the building closes on 25–26 December.