Museums, archives and libraries in Kent

Kent, an important maritime county in SE. of England, bounded N. by the Thames and the North Sea, E. and SE. by the Strait of Dover, S. by the English Channel, SW. by Sussex, and W. by Surrey; greatest length, W. to E., 65 miles; greatest breadth, N. to S., 35 miles; 995,392 acres, population 977,706. The surface of the county is hilly, being traversed E. and W. by the North Downs, a chalk range from 3 to 6 miles in breadth. On the N., along the shores of the Thames and Medway, there is a belt of marshland, which extends over a mile inland. The greater portion of the seaboard is washed by tidal water. Besides the Thames and Medway, the chief rivers are the Stour and the Darent. The soil is varied and highly cultivated, more especially in the valley of the Medway. All classes of cereals and root produce are abundant, as is also fruit of choice quality, and more hops are grown in Kent than in all the rest of England. The woods are extensive. The chief manufacture of the county is paper, most of the mills being on the banks of the Medway, Cray, and Darent. The Government works and dockyards at Woolwich, Chatham, Sheerness, &c., employ an immense number of the inhabitants. Fishing is extensively prosecuted along the coast and in the estuaries of the rivers Thames and Medway, of which the oyster beds are especially famous. The county contains 5 lathes, 73 hundreds, 435 parishes, and parts of 6 others, the Cinque Port Liberties of Dover, Hythe, and New Romney, the parliamentary and municipal boroughs of Canterbury, Dover, Gravesend, Hythe, Maidstone, and Rochester, the parliamentary boroughs of Chatham, Deptford (part of), Greenwich, Lewisham, and Woolwich, and the municipal boroughs of Deal, Faversham, Folkestone, Margate, Sandwich, and Tenterden. It is almost entirely in the dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester.

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Agricultural Museum

The Street, Brook

Ashford TN25 5PS

01304 824969

www.agriculturalmuseumbrook.org.uk

The museum at Brook forms part of an attractive and historic group of buildings consisting of Court Lodge farmhouse, with its medieval moated site, manorial barn and hop oast. The adjacent Church of St Mary is a fine example of Norman and Early English work. In the barn there are most of the items from when the horse was the power round the farm such as turnwrest ploughs, seed drills, reapers and wagons (click thumbnail on right). In the largely intact oast house are items associated with hops and other small items.

Archaeology in Education Service

Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 92a Broad Street

Canterbury CT1 2LU

01227 462062

www.canterburytrust.co.uk/learning/aes

The Archaeology in Education Service (AES) was set up in the late 1980s to support, as a priority, the implementation of the new National Curriculum in Kent’s schools. The AES is run by a part-time Education Officer who plans and participates in and/or manages all aspects of the service, engaging other CAT staff as appropriate.

Ashford Borough Museum

The Old Grammar School, The Churchyard

Ashford TN23 1QG

01233 631511

www.ashfordmuseum.org.uk

Built in 1635 by Sir Norton Knatchbull to house the newly founded Ashford Grammar School. On view are photographs of old Ashford, Ashford at War, local archaeological and geological discoveries, artefacts from an old established Ashford pharmacy plus exhibits of everyday life.

Beaney Art Museum & Library, The

18 High Street

Canterbury CT1 2RA

01227 862162

www.thebeaney.co.uk

The Beaney is an art museum and library situated in the heart of the historic city of Canterbury.

Belmont House & Gardens

Belmont House, Belmont Park, Throwley

Faversham ME13 0HH

www.belmont-house.org

The focus of Belmont is the magnificent neo-classical house, but we also have beautiful gardens and the finest private collection of clocks in Britain to explore.

Bethlem Royal Hospital Archives & Museum

The Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road

Beckenham BR3 3BX

020 3228 4307

www.bethlemheritage.org.uk

Founded in 1247, Bethlem Royal Hospital is now located in Beckenham, South London, as part of the wider South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The Archives and Museum service is dedicated to the history of mental health treatment, and includes historical and archival material as well as a large art collection.

Collections: Collections illustrate aspects of mental health and mental healthcare. They include archives of Bethlem Hospital (the original ‘Bedlam’) and the Maudsley Hospital (founded in the 20th century, influential in psychiatric teaching and research).

Bexley Local Studies & Archive Centre

Townley Road

Bexleyheath DA6 7HJ

020 8836 7440

www.bexley.gov.uk/archives

Our collections include the records of the London Borough of Bexley and its predecessors, schools, churches, estates, people, businesses and societies. We have newspapers from 1873 to the present; unique photographs, postcards and illustrations; books and journals on all aspects of Bexley, Kent and London; pamphlets; posters; oral histories; local maps and plans, from around the 18th century to present; census records; street and trade directories and south east London telephone directories from 1940 onwards.

Bexley Museum at Hall Place

Hall Place, Bourne Road

Bexley DA5 1PQ

01322 526574

www.hallplace.org.uk

A fine Grade 1 Listed country house built in 1540 for Sir John Champneis,Lord Mayor of London, and extended in the 17th century. Open to the public with free admission Hall Place is set in beautiful formal gardens on the banks of the River Cray.

Blue Town Heritage Centre

69 High St Blue Town

Sheerness ME12 1RW

01795 662981

www.thecriterionbluetown.co.uk

The Blue Town heritage centre is a mixture of museum, music hall, cinema and educational and research facility. It is adjacent to Sheerness dockyard and its aims are to promote and preserve the history of Blue Town and the Isle of Sheppey.

Brenzett Aeronautical Museum Trust

Ivychurch Road

Brenzett, Romney Marsh TN29 0EE

www.brenzettaero.co.uk

The Romney Marsh Wartime Collection is a unique collection of wartime equipment, remains recovered from aircraft crash sites and memorabilia collected and donated to the museum since its formation in 1972. The exhibition is located within the original buildings used as a Hostel for the Women’s Land Army during the war, and part of the exhibition is devoted to those ladies – some of their graffiti is still evident today.

Canterbury Cathedral

Cathedral House, 11 The Precincts

Canterbury CT1 2EH

01227 762862

www.canterbury-cathedral.org

Canterbury Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cathedral is both a holy place and part of a World Heritage Site.

Canterbury Cathedral Archives

The Precincts

Canterbury CT1 2EH

01227 865330

Canterbury Cathedral Archives holds a wealth of manuscripts, photographs, maps and other records dating back to the late 8th century. These make up an extraordinarily rich resource.

Canterbury Heritage Museum

Stour Street

Canterbury CT1 2NR

01227 475 202

www.canterbury-museums.co.uk

Discover Canterbury’s history, from millions of years ago to the present, explored through interactive displays in an amazing medieval building. Includes Anglo-Saxon treasures, Oliver Postgate’s Thomas Becket story, the Tudors, Joseph Conrad’s study, the Blitz gallery, Stephenson’s original Invicta railway engine, Rupert Bear and the real Bagpuss. Around the museum are over 30 exciting hands-on activities for families – you can write your name in Viking runes, sniff medieval poo, investigate finds like an archaeologist, try on Elizabethan costume and listen to wartime memories.

Canterbury Roman Museum

Butchery Lane

Canterbury CT1 2JR

01227 785 575

www.canterbury-museums.co.uk

Explore the Roman town beneath your feet. Canterbury’s underground Roman Museum is built around the remains of a Roman town house with mosaics preserved where excavated.

Canterbury Tales, The

St Margaret’s Street,

Canterbury CT1 2TG

01227 454888

www.canterburytales.org.uk

Ever wondered what it would be like to step back in time and experience the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone era? At The Canterbury Tales you can do just that. Step into medieval Canterbury and accompany Geoffrey Chaucer and his colourful pilgrims on their magical journey from London to the Shrine of St Thomas Becket in Canterbury. Along the way, their stories of love, romance, jealousy and trickery are vividly re-created with all the humour of Chaucer’s famous tales. The Canterbury Tale is a fascinating and accurate portrayal of life in medieval England during the 14th century.

Canterbury West Gate Towers

St Peter’s Street

Canterbury CT1 1TF

01227 452747

After the Cathedral, the West Gate is Canterbury’s next eye-catching landmark. It has stood for six centuries on guard over the road to and from London. It is the largest surviving medieval gate in England.

Capel-le-Ferne Memorial

Battle of Britain Memorial, New Dover Road, Capel-le-Ferne

Folkestone CT18 7JJ

01303 249292

www.battleofbritainmemorial.org

A striking memorial to those who flew and those who gave their lives in the Battle of Britain stands on the White Cliffs between Dover and Folkestone at Capel le Ferne. It is an ideal location and one which was all too familiar to both the RAF and the Luftwaffe during that desperate summer of 1940.

Centre for Kentish Studies

Sessions House, County Hall

Maidstone ME14 1XQ

01622 694 291

The centre for Kentish Studies is the Headquarters for the Kent Archives Centre for Kentish Studies search room service. It holds manuscript and printed records for the County of Kent.

Chantry Heritage Centre

Fort Gardens, Commercial Place

Gravesend DA12 2BH

01474 337442

goo.gl/jLleJi

The oldest surviving 14th century building in the Borough of Gravesham. The building fell into disuse after the Reformation. The chapel became an inn towards the end of the 17th century, and later became part of the fort and defence works erected on the site. Today the building is promoted as the Chantry Heritage Centre and houses a range of exhibits relating to Gravesend, Northfleet and the nearby villages.

Chartwell – National Trust

Mapleton Road

Westerham TN16 1PS

01732 868381

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell

Bought by Sir Winston Churchill for its magnificent views over the Weald of Kent to Sussex, Chartwell was his home and the place from which he drew inspiration from 1924 until the end of his life.

Chiddingstone Castle

Hill Hoath Road

Edenbridge TN8 7AD

01892 870347

www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Home to a fascinating collection of Japanese Samurai armour, Buddhist figures, Ancient Egyptian artefacts,Jacobite and Stuart paintings and memorabilia. All were collected by the last owner of the castle, Denys Bower.

Colonel Stephens Museum

Tenterden Town Station, Station Road

Tenterden TN30 6HE

087 060 060 74

www.hfstephens-museum.org.uk

The Colonel Stephens Museum recording the career of Holman Fred Stephens, light railway promoter, engineer and manager, his family, his railways and his successors.

Cranbrook Local History Museum

Carriers Road

Cranbrook TN17 3JX

01580 715542

www.cranbrookmuseum.org

Cranbook Museum is an engaging local museum with collections spanning te history of Cranbrook Town, its industry, culture and local nature.

Crofton Roman Villa

Crofton Road, Orpington BR6 8AF

01689 860939

www.the-cka.fsnet.co.uk

Crofton Roman Villa is the only villa open to the public in Greater London. It was inhabited from about AD 140 to 400 and was the centre of a large farming estate.

Dartford Borough Museum

Market Street

Dartford DA1 1EU

01322 224739

www.dartford.gov.uk/museum

Permanent display of local archaeology, reconstruction of a draper’s shop and Dartford during the Second World War. Regular temporary exhibitions on a variety of subjects.

Deal Castle – English Heritage

Victoria Road

Deal CT14 7BA

01304 372762

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/deal-castle/

For a day out of adventure and exploration, where kids can imagine life as a soldier visit Deal Castle. Dare the whole family to explore the dark passages that wind through the huge bastions and discover the castle’s history from the interactive exhibition.

Deal Maritime & Local History Museum

22 St George’s Road

Deal CT14 6BA

01304 375816

www.home.freeuk.com/deal-museum

Exhibits include the Saxon King (the last of the Deal Galleys), many ships models (including the Cutty Sark), colourful figureheads and numerous pictures, prints and memorabilia of the famous Deal Boatmen, the Deal, Walmer, and Kingsdown lifeboat crews and of the Royal Marines stationed at Deal for over 300 years.

Dog Collar Museum at Leeds Castle, The

The Dog Collar Museum, Leeds Castle

Maidstone ME17 1PL

01622 765400

A unique collection of historic and fascinating dog collars has been built up over the years and is now the only one of its kind in Great Britain. Mrs. Gertrude Hunt most generously presented her collection of collars to the Leeds Castle Foundation in memory of her husband, John Hunt, the distinguished medievalist. The collection of over 100 collars and related exhibits has since been added to and enhanced by the Foundation itself.

Dover Castle – English Heritage

Dover CT16 1HU

01304 211067

goo.gl/XGvTxK

Set high above the famous white cliffs, Dover Castle boasts a colourful and fascinating history. The most iconic of all English fortresses commanding the gateway to the realm for nine centuries. Climb the Great Tower, meet the characters and immerse yourself in vivid medieval interiors. Then delve deep within Dover’s White Cliffs to witness the drama in the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Roam through centuries of history at Dover Castle, from the Romans to the Cold War.

Dover Museum

01304 201066

www.dovermuseum.co.uk

Dover Museum is a local history and archaeology museum situated in the town centre of Dover, Britain’s historic port town. It is home to the Dover Bronze Age Boat, the world’s oldest known seagoing boat and a fascinating archaeological discovery.

Dover Transport Museum

Willingdon Road, Whitfield

Dover CT16 2JX

01304 822409

www.dovertransportmuseum.org.uk

Stroll through the collection of over 50 vehicles housed in two main galleries set in period street scenes of a bygone age, bringing the past, present and future together.

Down House – Home of Charles Darwin

Down House

Downe BR6 7JT

01689 859119

www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.14922

An intimate window into the life of England’s best known scientist. It was from his study at Down House that Charles Darwin worked on the scientific theories that culminated in a book ‘On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection’ that both scandalised and revolutionised Victorian Britain.

Drop Redoubt

Drop Redoubt Road

Dover CT17 9AP

www.doverwesternheights.org

The Drop Redoubt together with the Western Heights, forms the largest Napoleonic fortress in Britain. They are an excellent example of British defence from the Napoleonic period right through to the Second World War.

Eden Valley Museum

Church House, 72 High Street

Edenbridge TN8 5AR

01732 868102

www.evmt.org.uk

An innovative new museum housed in a Grade 2* listed building. This timber framed mediaeval farmhouse helps to tell the story of the people of the Eden Valley.

Collections: Local social history including industry, farming, domestic artefacts, painting and prints, costume Archaeology of the Eden Valley Archives.

Finchcocks

Goudhurst TN17 1HH

01580 211702

www.finchcocks.co.uk

Finchcocks, a fine Georgian manor in Kent, houses Richard Burnett’s celebrated collection of over 100 keyboard instruments: harpsichords, pianos, organs and many more. Some forty of them are in full working order, with a staff of professional musicians providing live demonstrations throughout your visit. Finchcocks also invites keyboard players of all ages to play the instruments, and to experience first-hand the sounds that composers such as Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Brahms made as they created their masterpieces, or simply entertained their friends.

Fleur De Lis Heritage Centre

13 Preston Street

Faversham ME13 8NS

01795 534542

www.favershamsociety.org/_museum.html

The Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre comprises three adjoining grade II listed buildings in Preston Street right in the centre of Faversham. The Heritage Centre, or the Fleur, as it is affectionately known, is owned and voluntarily run by the Faversham Society and offers many facilities for the visitor and locals alike.

Folkestone & District Family History Society

Kingsmill Down, Hastingleigh

Ashford TN25 5JJ

01233 750321

www.folkfhs.org.uk

The Folkestone and District Family History Society was founded in 1976 to encourage and promote the study of family history in the South East Kent area. It provides advice and assistance to members with South East Kent ancestry as well as to members whose roots are elsewhere, and welcomes the beginner and the more experienced family historian alike.

Folkestone History Resource Centre

2 Grace Hill

Folkestone CT20 1HD

08458 247200

Get a glimpse of Folkestone’s extensive and diverse collection. From Roman wall plaster and woolly mammoth teeth, to mine detectors and early cameras, not to mention our sixth century skeleton.

Fort Amherst Heritage Trust

Dock Road

Chatham ME4 4UB

01634 84774

www.fortamherst.com

Fort Amherst, based in Chatham, Medway, Kent, is Britain’s largest Napoleonic Fortress and provides a great day out for all the family. Visitors can enjoy: over 300 years of military history with an amazing network of underground passageways, historic buildings and gun emplacements all set in 20 acres of beautiful parkland.

Gateways to the First World War

School of History, Rutherford College, University of Kent

Canterbury CT2 7NX

www.gatewaysfww.org.uk

Gateways is an AHRC-funded centre for public engagement with the First World War centenary. The centre is managed by the University of Kent in partnership with the Universities of Brighton, Greenwich, Portsmouth, Leeds and Queen Mary, London.

Grand Shaft Staircase

c/o Dover Town Hall, Biggin Street

Dover CT16 1DL

01304 201200

Triple spiral staircase built 1803-1809 connecting grand shaft barracks on the cliff top with Snargate Street at sea level.

Gravesend Cold War Bunker

Woodlands Park, Wrotham Road

Gravesend DA11 0QF

01474 33 76 00

www.gravesham.gov.uk/index.cfm?Articleid=2807

Gravesend’s secret Cold War bunker was an underground command post, built in 1954, from which Gravesend’s rescue and emergency services were to be co-ordinated in the event of a nuclear attack. Its 13 rooms contained power and ventilation plant, communications areas for the command staff and dormitories.

Gravesham Museum (online only)

Windmill Street

Gravesend DA12 1BE

01474 323 159

www.discovergravesham.co.uk

At the click of your mouse you will be able to glimpse the cultural, social and commercial heritage of Gravesend, Northfleet and the nearby villages.

Groombridge Place

Groombridge

Tunbridge Wells TN3 9QG

01892 861444

www.groombridge.co.uk

A visit to Groombridge Place will give you an unforgettable day whether you come as garden enthusiasts to explore and enjoy the sights and scents of the 17th century formal walled gardens; or with your family to discover the secret, quirky and mysterious gardens of the ancient forest where children’s imagination will run wild; or for one of our many popular special events.

Guildhall Museum

High Street

Rochester ME1 1PY

01634 333111

The Guildhall Museum was built in 1687 and is one of the finest 17th century civic buildings in Kent. The main staircase and principal chamber have magnificently decorated plaster ceilings, given in 1695 by Admiral Sir Cloudsley Shovell who was a Member of Parliament for the city of Rochester at the time.

Collections: At the Guildhall Museum you can look at what people made and used so many years ago. Reach back into the past with the help of evidence – from the huge Roman potteries by the river; from the busy farms scattered through the countryside; and from the important Roman town of Durobrivae itself.

Hall Place & Gardens

Bourne Road

Bexley DA5 1PQ

01322 526574

www.hallplace.org.uk

Hall Place is a Grade I listed Tudor country house originally built in 1537 and also with a 17th century courtyard built by later owner Sir Robert Austen.

Herne Bay Museum & Gallery

12 William Street

Herne Bay CT6 5EJ

01227 367368

www.canterbury-museums.co.uk

This coastal museum features the story of the Victorian seaside resort of Herne Bay and its surrounding area, with exciting finds from nearby Reculver Roman fort. Displays include local paintings, prints and photos, mammoth tusks and fossils from local beaches, coastal wildlife and a Barnes Wallis Bouncing Bomb prototype from World War Two. Among display themes are seaside holidays and attractions, the town’s piers, clock tower and the development of the resort.

Herne Windmill

c/o 46 Windmill Road

Herne Bay CT6 7DF

01227 361326

www.herne-mill.btck.co.uk

Herne Mill is a Kentish smock windmill dating from 1789. It is Grade I listed and is owned by Kent County Council and cared for by the Friends of Herne Mill. The latest in a long line of mills which have occupied the site for centuries, the windmill is a local landmark on the skyline above the ancient village of Herne in Kent.

Hever Castle & Gardens

Hever Road

Nr Edenbridge TN8 7NG

01732 861710

www.hevercastle.co.uk

700 years of history to be discovered at this 13th century double moated romantic castle, once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and housing an important collection of Tudor portraits, fine furniture, tapestries and artefacts. The natural and formal gardens include Italian Gardens with a magnificent collection of Italian statuary, many of which are over 2000 years old, topiary, grottoes, fountains, boating lake, yew and water maze and adventure playground with Henry VIII tower maze.

Historic Dockyard Chatham

The Historic Dockyard

Chatham ME4 4TZ

01634 823800

www.thedockyard.co.uk

A unique, award winning maritime heritage destination with a fantastic range of attractions, iconic buildings and historic ships to explore, plus a fabulous programme of temporary exhibitions at No 1 Smithery. Make rope on the Victorian Ropery Tour; be gripped by stories of life aboard our three historic warships and hear of heroic stories in the RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection.

Home Front Bus

2 Broadfield Crescent

Folkestone CT20 2PH

01303 779339

www.homefrontbus.com

Home Front Bus is a unique Living History Experience. The classic double decker bus houses detailed reconstructions of a 1940s living room, a shop, a bombed out street and an air raid shelter, each containing period features and artefacts replicating the sights and sounds on the Home Front during World War 2.

Huguenot Museum

95 High Street

Rochester ME1 1LX

01634 789347

www.facebook.com/huguenotheritagecentre

Opening Summer 2015. The Huguenot Museum tells the story of Britain’s first refugees: the skills they brought to the UK, their descendants, and relevance to the story of refugees today. ‘We help people to better understand the present by learning about the past, enabling us to make connections between Huguenot history and the world around us.’.

Hythe Local History Room

Oaklands, Stade Street

Hythe CT21 6BQ

01303 267111

www.hythetc.kentparishes.gov.uk

The Hythe Local History Room was established in the neighbourhood of Oaklands, in 1933, in a house left to the town and Cinque Port of Hythe by Dr Randolph Davis. The collection, including material about archaeology and social history as well as paintings, illustrates the history of the town and the Small Arms School, in three rooms adjoining the public library.

Ightham Mote – National Trust

Ivy Hatch

Sevenoaks TN15 0NT

01732 810378

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote

Superb 14th-century moated manor house: * See the results of the Trust’s largest ever conservation project * Tudor chapel with hand-painted ceiling * Grade I listed dog kennel * Lovely gardens, with lakeside and woodland walks, in a secluded valley.

Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies

79 – 82 Northgate

Canterbury CT1 1BA

01227 768664

www.ihgs.ac.uk

The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (IHGS) was the first centre for Family History Studies. Founded in 1961, it offers a wide range of courses on family history, heraldry and related historical subjects.

Kent & Sharpshooters Yeomanry Museum Trust

Hever Castle

Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG

01732 865224

www.ksymuseum.org.uk

Commemorating the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles, Queen’s Own West Kent Yeomanry, Kent Yeomanry, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 23rd London Armoured Car Company (Sharpshooters), 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Kent and County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).

Kent Battle of Britain Museum

Aerodrome Road, Hawkinge

Folkestone CT18 7AG

01303 893140

www.kbobm.org

The most important collection of Battle of Britain artefacts on show in the country. The museum was lucky to acquire one of the sites of Britain’s epic struggle for survival in 1940, in what was the greatest air battle of all time.

Kent County Council Arts & Museums

Springfield

Maidstone ME14 2LH

01622 696434

Manages three museums in library buildings at Folkestone, Ramsgate and Sevenoaks.

Kent Family History Society

Bullockstone Farm, Bullockstone Road

Herne Bay CT6 7NL

www.kfhs.org.uk

Established in 1974 as the largest and oldest family history society in Kent, with more than 3,200 members worldwide, we are uniquely able to help members to learn how to research their own family tree.

Kent Firefighting Museum

Kent County Council Fire Department, Straw Mill Hill, Tovil

Maidstone ME15 6XB

01622 692 121

www.kentfirefightingmuseum.org.uk

Displays historical firefighting appliances, equipment, artefacts, photographs and documentary records relating to the history of firefighting in Kent.

Kent History & Library Centre

James Whatman Way

Maidstone ME14 1LQ

03000 413131

The Kent History and Library Centre is purpose built to protect and give access to the county’s archives. It houses around 14 kilometres of historic material relating to Kent dating back to 699 AD and is the place to come for anyone interested in local history.

Kent Life

Lock Lane, Sandling

Maidstone ME14 3AU

01622 763936

www.kentlife.org.uk

There’s so much new to do at Kent’s premier heritage farm attraction. Agricultural tools and machinery, social history – domestic life, working life and the life of hop pickers.

Kent Police Museum

The Historic Dockyard

Rochester ME1 3NJ

01634 403260

www.kent-police-museum.co.uk

The Police Museum was started as a collection of police memorabilia in the 1960s by officers who felt there was a need to show our history. The museum also provides a service for any research of family history enquiries. The services are available by contacting the museum curator.

Knole – National Trust

Knole House

Sevenoaks TN15 0RP

01732 462100

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole

Knole is one of England’s most important, complete, yet fragile historic houses, set at the heart of Kent’s last remaining medieval deer park. * Rare collection of Royal Stuart furniture * Important portraits by Van Dyke, Gainsborough and Reynolds * Birthplace of novelist and poet Vita Sackville-West * Magnificent 1,000-acre deer park, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Lashenden Air Warfare Museum

Headcorn Aerodrome, Headcorn

Ashford TN27 9HX

01622 890226

www.lashendenairwarfaremuseum.co.uk

The museum was formed in 1970 with the aim of preserving the aviation heritage of Kent, with particular emphasis on World War II. Also to promote and develop an aviation awareness in the general public, raising money for RAF and other associated charities.

Collections: The museum has 5 aircraft on display, including two original World War 2 German aircraft. The Focke Achgelis Fa 330 rotor kite & a Fieseler Fi 103R4 Richenberg piloted V1 flying bomb.

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle

Maidstone ME17 1PL

01622 765 400

www.leeds-castle.com

Leeds Castle, set on two islands on the River Len in the heart of Kent, has been home to royalty, lords and ladies for more than 900 years. Visitors are transported through the castle’s history; an eclectic mix of period architecture, sumptuous interiors and family treasures waiting to be discovered.

Light Vessel 21

Pier Approach Road Gillingham Pier

Gillingham ME7 1RX

07796 177237

www.LV21.co.uk

Ahoy. LV21 is a 40 metre steel-hulled lightship being transformed into a floating cultural facility and maritime heritage centre. Designed to provide a range of services promoting and supporting the creative industries in the Medway area and beyond, whilst celebrating and honouring the maritime traditions of the vessel, LV21 is set to become an iconic landmark on the river Medway.

Lullingstone Roman Villa – English Heritage

Nr Swanley DA4 0JA

01322 863467

goo.gl/pi0Ocl

Among the most outstanding Roman villa survivals in Britain, Lullingstone has been vividly re-displayed, providing a unique – and all-weather – opportunity to trace Roman domestic life over three centuries. Set in the attractive surroundings of the Darent Valley, the villa was begun in about AD 100, and developed to suit the tastes and beliefs of successive wealthy owners.

Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery

St Faiths Street

Maidstone ME14 1LH

01622 602838/9

www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk

Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery is an award winning museum, housed in a beautiful Elizabethan manor house. Highlights include a 2,500 year old mummy; Maidstone’s local history; a fascinating journey through time when dinosaurs walked the earth; one of the finest Japanese collections of Japanese art in the country; magnificent ‘Old Master’ oil paintings; and the splendour of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regimental Museum.

Maison Dieu – English Heritage

Maison Dieu

Faversham ME13 8NS

01795 534542

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/maison-dieu

Originating as a 13th-century wayside hospital, this flint and timber-framed building now displays Roman artefacts from nearby sites.

Margate Museum

Market Place, Old Town

Margate CT9 1EU

01843 231213

margatemuseum.wordpress.com

Margate Museum is situated in the vibrant Old Town. The building itself was once the town magistrates court and gaol and boasts many original features.

Medway Archives & Local Studies

Medway Archives Office, Civic Centre, Strood

Rochester ME2 4AU

01634 332714

cityark.medway.gov.uk/

We preserve and make available for research the archives of the Medway area of Kent and also the parish records of north-west Kent. Our oldest records date from 604.

Meopham Windmill

Wrotham Road

Meopham, Gravesham DA13 0QA

01474 813518

The Meopham Windmill was built in 1801 by the three Killick brothers reputedly from old ships timbers purchased from Chatham Dockyard. It was built to a ‘smock’ design similar to the brothers’ other mill at Strood; the name derives from the similarity to the garment worn by agricultural workers in earlier times.

New Tavern Fort

Milton Place

Gravesham DA12 2BT

01474 337442

www.gravesham.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=960

The New Tavern Fort is the remains of an 18th century fort situated within the Fort Gardens and built in the 1780s to defend the Thames against the threat of a naval attack from France and extensively rebuilt by General Gordon between 1865 and 1879. Come along and venture into the mysterious underground world of the Victorian artilleryman and see the magazines and full size reconstructions of scenes from Gravesend during the Second World War.

North West Kent Family History Society

51 Newbury Avenue Allington

Maidstone ME16 0RG

01322 384 836

www.nwkfhs.org.uk

The North West Kent Family History Society was formed in 1978 with the object of aiding and encouraging the study of family history and genealogy in South East London and North West Kent.

Old Soar Manor – National Trust

Plaxtol

Borough Green TN15 0QX

01732 810378

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/old-soar-manor

This is all that is left of the manor house of c. 1290 which stood here until the 18th century.

Owletts – National Trust

The Street, Cobham

Gravesend DA12 3AP

01474 813 849

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/owletts

The former home of Sir Herbert Baker, the architect, famous for his work in India (where he worked with Lutyens) and South Africa, the house has a Carolean staircase and plasterwork ceiling and a large kitchen garden.

Parish Church of St Mary of Charity, The

Parish Church of St Mary of Charity, Church Road

Faversham ME13 8GZ

01795 532592

www.faversham.org/stmaryofcharity

The Parish Church of St Mary of Charity is set in the heart of the historic Market Town of Faversham, Kent. It has a wealth of artefacts for visitors to see including a medieval painted column (1306) – one of the finest examples in Britain today; brasses and 16th century misericords; and the likely resting place of King Stephen and Queen Matilda.

Penshurst Place & Gardens

Penshurst Place Penshurst

Tonbridge TN11 8DG

01892 870307

www.penshurstplace.com

Though at its heart a medieval and Tudor building, the house has been modified and extended over the centuries. Eight architectural styles are evident, with plenty for visitors to explore in it’s fascinating history – and still many mysteries to be revealed. Penshurst Place has been owned by the Sidney family since 1552.

Powell-Cotton Museum

Quex Park, Park Lane

Birchington CT7 0BH

01843 842 168

www.quexmuseum.org

Museum created by PHG Powell-Cotton (1866-1940) housing his collections from 25 expeditions to Africa and 5 trips to SE Asia between 1889 and 1939 (26 years actually on African soil). Three galleries of amazing animal diorama displays – the finest in this country – depicting more than 250 African and Asian mammals against their natural habitats.

Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment & Queen’s Regiment Museum

5 Keep Yard, Dover Castle

Dover CT16 1HU

01304 240121

www.army.mod.uk

Military history from 1572 to present. Story of 12 Foot and 9 County Infantry regiments.

Quebec House – National Trust

Quebec House

Westerham TN16 1TD

01732 868381

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quebec-house

Childhood home of General James Wolfe. * Unique collection of Georgian memorabilia * Fascinating Battle of Quebec exhibition * Gabled red brick 17th-century house.

Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum

St Faith’s Street

Maidstone ME14 1LH

01622 754 497

www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk/information

This independent museum has been housed within Maidstone Museum since 1960. It is packed with fascinating, colourful and thought-provoking exhibits.

RAF Manston Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum

Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial, The Airfield, Manston Road

Ramsgate CT12 5DF

01843 821940

www.spitfire.memorial.museum

The Memorial Building is situated on one of the very few surviving airfields which participated in the Battle of Britain. RAF Manston was the closest airfield to the enemy coast and bore the brunt of the early Luftwaffe air attacks in the long hot summer of 1940.

Collections: Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVI (LF) – Type 361 – Serial TB752 – Sqn Code KH-Z: TB752 is one of the few surviving Spitfires with a wartime record.

Ramsgate Maritime Museum

The Clock House, Maritime Museum Pier Yard

Ramsgate CT11 8LS

07810 358135

www.ramsgatemaritimemuseum.org

Situated in the Clock House on the quayside at Ramsgate Harbour, Ramsgate Maritime Museum focuses strongly on Ramsgate and its immediate environs, with a brief introduction to the rest of the region’s maritime past.

Ramsgate Tunnels

Marina Esplanade

Ramsgate CT11 8NA

01843 588123

www.ramsgatetunnels.org

The tunnels, which were dug prior to the start of WWII, at the behest of the then Mayor ABC Kemp, designed to hold 60,000 people, and spanning some 3 1/4 miles beneath the town of Ramsgate. They incorporate a 3/4 mile long Victorian railway tunnel as well as a labyrinth of chalk tunnels which are 7 x 6ft.

Red House – National Trust

Red House Lane

Bexleyheath DA6 8JF

020 8304 9878

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/red-house

Commissioned by William Morris in 1859 and designed by Philip Webb, Red House is of enormous international significance in the history of domestic architecture and garden design. The unique building is constructed of warm red brick, under a steep red-tiled roof, with an emphasis on natural materials and a strong Gothic influence.

Richborough Roman Fort & Amphitheatre – English Heritage

Richborough

Sandwich CT13 9JW

01304 612013

goo.gl/vc4BHq

Witnessing both the beginning and almost the end of Roman rule in Britain, Richbourough Roman Fort & Amphitheatre is an inspirational and fascinating day out. With plenty of space for adults to relax and children to play this is the perfect place for a family picnic.

RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection

Lifeboat., The Historic Dockyard

Chatham ME4 4TZ

01634 823800

Housed in an 1848 covered slip, the Lifeboat Gallery contains 17 historic boats, many of which earned their Coxswains RNLI bravery medals. From an 1897 pulling and sailing lifeboat, to the familiar Arun class and Blue Peter inflatable inshore lifeboats, visitors can explore how lifeboats have evolved over the past century.

Rochester Castle

Castle Hill

Rochester ME1 1SW

01634 402276

goo.gl/jVTP9a

Strategically placed astride the London Road, guarding an important crossing of the River Medway, this imposing fortress has a complex history of destruction and rebuilding. Its Norman tower-keep of Kentish ragstone was built about 1127 by William of Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury, with the encouragement of Henry I. Consisting of three floors above a basement, it still stands 113 feet high. Attached is a tall protruding forebuilding, with its own set of defences to pass through before the keep itself could be entered at first floor level. In 1215, garrisoned by rebel barons, the castle endured an epic siege by King John. Rebuilt under Henry III and Edward I, the castle remained as a viable fortress until the sixteenth century.

Rochester Cathedral

Chapter Office, Garth House, The Precinct

Rochester ME1 1SX

01634 810073

www.rochestercathedral.org

Rochester Cathedral is England’s second oldest cathedral, having been founded in 604AD by Bishop Justus. The present building dates back to the work of the French monk, Gundulf, in 1080.

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

New Romney Station

New Romney TN28 8LG

01797 362353

www.rhdr.org.uk

First opened to traffic in July 1927 as the ‘World’s Smallest Public Railway’ and now covering a distance of 13.5 miles from the picturesque Cinque Port of Hythe, near the channel tunnel, to the fishermen’s cottages and lighthouses at Dungeness.

Royal Engineers Museum, Library & Archive

Prince Arthur Road

Gillingham ME4 4UG

01634 822839

www.re-museum.co.uk

The Royal Engineers Museum and Library tell the story of the Corps of Royal Engineers and military engineering. It is a story about the Sappers and their courage, creativity and innovation. In peace and war the Corps has been everywhere and involved in everything. The museum holds a particularly comprehensive collection of British medals.

Sandwich Guildhall Museum

Cattle Market

Sandwich CT13 9AH

01304 617 197

www.sandwichtowncouncil.gov.uk

The museum is housed in the Guildhall, a listed building, and tells the story of Sandwich from medieval times. There are many well-designed illustrative panels relating to the history of the town with artefacts dating back to the early 13th century.

Scotney Castle – National Trust

Lamberhurst

Tunbridge Wells TN3 8JN

01892 893820

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle

The moated 14th century castle and landscape of Scotney together make this one of England’s most romantic places. Created in the 1830s by Edward Hussey who had the imagination to transform the medieval Scotney Castle from derelict dwelling to quaint ruin, thus forming the focus of his picturesque landscape garden, which he called his pleasure gardens.

Sevenoaks Museum

Sevenoaks Library, Buckhurst Lane

Sevenoaks TN13 1LQ

01732 453118

www.kent.gov.uk

Sevenoaks Museum is situated inside Sevenoaks Library. The 1980s building was re-developed in 2005/6 and also contains a contemporary art gallery, local studies library and cafe space.

Shoreham Aircraft Museum

13 High Street, Shoreham Village

Sevenoaks TN14 7TB

01959 524416

www.shoreham-aircraft-museum.co.uk

The museum houses hundreds of aviation relics excavated by the group over many years from crashed British and German aircraft, as well as items which have been kindly donated. In addition, there is a fine collection of flying helmets, uniforms and insignia.

Sissinghurst Castle – National Trust

Sissinghurst, nr. Cranbrook

  1. Cranbrook TN17 2AB

01580 710700

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle

One of the world’s most celebrated gardens, the creation of Vita Sackville-West and her husband Sir Harold Nicolson.

Smallhythe Place – National Trust

Smallhythe

Tenterden TN30 7NG

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/smallhythe-place

Ellen Terry’s early 16th-century house and cottage gardens. The half-timbered house, built for the harbourmaster in the early 16th century when Smallhythe was a thriving shiphuilding yard, was the home of the Victorian actress Ellen Terry from 1899 to 1928 and contains her fascinating theatre collection.

Snodland Millennium Museum

Waghorn Road

Snodland ME6 5BQ

01634-243001

www.snodlandhistory.org.uk/museum/page6.htm

The museum is owned and maintained by Snodland Town Council. Admission is free.

South Foreland Lighthouse – National Trust

The Front, St Margaret

Dover CT15 6HP

01304 852463

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/south-foreland-lighthouse

A striking landmark on the White Cliffs of Dover, this historic building was the site of Faraday’s work in pioneering the use of electricity in lighthouses, and was the first to display an electrically powered signal. South Foreland was also used by Marconi for his successful wireless telegraphy experiments in 1898.

St Augustine’s Abbey – English Heritage

Canterbury

01227 767345

www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.14831

This great abbey, marking the rebirth of Christianity in southern England, was founded shortly after AD 597 by St Augustine. Originally created as a burial place for the Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent, it is part of the Canterbury World Heritage Site, along with the cathedral and St Martin’s Church. The impressive abbey is situated outside the city walls and is sometimes missed by visitors.

St Margaret’s Museum

Beach Road, St Margaret’s Bay

Dover CT15 6DZ

01304 852764

www.helionix.com/html/museum.html

Directly opposite the main entrance to the Pines Garden is St Margaret’s museum and The Garden Café. The museum, created by the Trustees in memory of Fred Cleary CBE, houses a programme of changing displays on environmental themes and local history. Also on display is a tribute to one-time resident of St Margaret’s, Noel Coward.

Stoneacre – National Trust

Otham

Maidstone ME15 8RS

01622 862157

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stoneacre

15th-century half-timbered yeoman’s house, featuring a great hall and surrounded by glorious garden, orchard and meadows. A perfect example of a Wealden Hall-House, it is full of beautiful collections of furniture, wood and metal work.

Tenterden & District Museum

Station Road

Tenterden TN30 6HN

01580 764310

www.ukpages.net/kent/museum.htm

The museum is housed in a two-storey weatherboarded building, one of the last representatives in Tenterden of a type of industrial building common in the area in the latter part of the 19th century. It serves as a focus for research and enquiry and provides a repository for artefacts connected with the area.

Timeball Tower

Victoria Parade

Deal CT14 7BP

01304 360987

www.dealtimeball.co.uk

Originally in 1796 a Shutter Telegraph station, the current Tower was built in 1821 as a Semaphore Tower but was later equipped with a Timeball which was raised on a mast on the roof and dropped at 1 pm by a signal fron Greenwich so that the many ships anchored off shore could check their chronometers. There are 4 floors of exhibits, video and interactive displays of signalling, timekeeping & navigation equipment.

Timescapes

On-line virtual organisation

Whitstable

timescapeskent.wordpress.com

Timescapes is a community group committed to involving local people in the history and archaeology of Whitstable and the North Kent Coast. We work closely with other groups and organsations to undertake research and education programmes.

Tunbridge Wells Family History Society

Yew Tree Byre, Yew Tree Lane, Rotherfield

Rotherfield TN6 3QP

www.tunwells-fhs.co.uk

We are a small Society with around 250 members who either live in or have family history connections with the Tunbridge Wells area, which straddles the Kent / East Sussex border.

Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery

Civic Centre, Mount Pleasant

Tunbridge Wells TN1 1JN

01892 554171

www.tunbridgewellsmuseum.org

Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery shares the special story of the borough of Tunbridge Wells. Enjoy our wonderful collections, visit our major exhibitions and take part in activities for everyone.

Tyrwhitt Drake Museum of Carriages

The Archbishops’ Stables, Mill Street

Maidstone ME15 6YE

01622 602838

www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk

Maidstone Carriage Museum is home to a unique collection of horse-drawn vehicles and transport curiosities. More than 60 vehicles are displayed, from grand carriages and ornate sleighs to antique sedan chairs and Victorian cabs – even an original ice cream cart.

Upnor Castle – English Heritage

Upnor ME2 4XG

0870 333 1181

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/upnor-castle/

Set in tranquil grounds adjoining a riverside village, this rare example of an Elizabethan artillery fort was begun in 1559 and redeveloped in 1599-1601, to protect warships moored at Chatham dockyards. Despite a brave attempt, it entirely failed to do so in 1667, when the Dutch sailed past it to burn or capture the English fleet at anchor.

Walmer Castle & Gardens – English Heritage

Kingsdown Road

Walmer CT14 7LJ

01304 364288

goo.gl/hPgPT1

Built during the reign of King Henry VIII, Walmer Castle is one of the most fascinating visitor attractions in the South East. Originally designed as part of a chain of coastal artillery defences it evolved into the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

White Mill Rural Heritage Centre

Ash Road

Sandwich CT13 9JB

07891 389 675

www.whitemillheritagecentre.org.uk

White Mill is a smock mill which retains its original wooden machinery and was restored between 1961 and 1981. It is surrounded by the original outbuildings and millers cottage. White Mill was built in 1760 and still has most of its original wooden machinery.

Whitstable Museum & Gallery

Oxford Street

Whitstable CT5 1DB

01227 276998

www.canterbury-museums.co.uk

Dive in to maritime history and explore the town. The fascinating displays give townspeople and visitors an idea of why Whitstable is here, how it grew and how it has changed over the years.

Woodchurch Village Life Museum

Susans Hill

Woodchurch, near Ashford TN26 3RE

01233 860240

www.woodchurchmuseum.com

Woodchurch is a picturesque Kent village which is situated 7 miles from the historic market town of Ashford and 5 miles from the Cinque Ports town of Tenterden. The museum is housed in an 18th century oak-framed barn and 17th century cart shed, on a rural site not far from the village centre.

Woolwich & District Family History Society

121 Crofton Avenue

Bexley DA5 3AU

www.woolwichfhs.org.uk

The society covers not just Woolwich but also Greenwich, Woolwich, Charlton, Plumstead, Eltham, Welling, Bexleyheath and Crayford. Many people have ancestors who spent a few years or a few generation in this area.