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Kent Archives

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Kent Archives

A nationally accredited archive repository for Kent, established in 1933 and based in Maidstone. This account is monitored from Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5pm.

Get involved and keep up-to-date with the latest news and events from our service. We hold the largest collection of historic material relating to the ancient county of Kent dating back to 699 AD, from the earliest charters written on sheepskin to the present state of the art digital images. Our archive and local history collections tell the story of Kent and beyond, and are a focal point for the

county’s heritage and culture, most of which you can access when you visit the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone. While the archives consist of original records, often handwritten and unique, created in the course of human activities, the local history collection consists largely of printed material and includes published original records, as well as printed books. The collections tell the stories of people’s lives and their communities through diaries, eyewitness accounts, records of crime and punishment, titles to property, newspapers, photographs, maps and posters, and more. Please visit www.kentarchives.org.uk for more information.

28/08/2026

🔔 Opening Hours - August Bank Holiday

Our libraries, registration offices and the Kent Archives Search Room at Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone will be closed all day on Monday 31 August for the Summer Bank Holiday.

🔎 Access our resource and collection guides, request research and find out more about Kent Archives from home over at kentarchives.org.uk

We'll see you all again after the Bank Holiday

Kent County Council Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives

27/08/2026

📣 Announcing our next lunchtime talk: Monday 14th September, 1-2pm:
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'Kent's medieval hospitals: from Conquest to Reformation' presented by Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh (Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies, University of Kent)
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📍 UPGRADED VENUE: Lecture Theatre, County Hall (opposite Maidstone East Station)
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About the talk:
Among Kent’s over seventy medieval hospitals and almshouses are some of the oldest in the country and a considerable number, compared to many counties, are still functioning today. This talk will explore the different types of medieval hospital – from l***r hospitals to those which accommodated poor pilgrims, as well as how hospitals developed in the later Middle Ages to meet the changing circumstances of the world after the Black Death. Moreover, medieval hospitals are often seen as extensions of monasteries, but we’ll see just how important the civic authorities were in the management of ‘their’ hospitals, and the way the civic records provide insights into the lives of the brothers and sisters at hospitals such as St John’s in Sandwich.
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Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh is a Specialist Associate Lecturer in Medieval and Early Modern Studies at the University of Kent. She has worked extensively on medieval and Tudor Kent, from women in late medieval Appledore and Hythe to the lives of immigrants in 15th-century Canterbury. She has published books and articles on Kent’s medieval hospitals as well as on other social and cultural topics linked to the period.
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Free to attend – reserve your seat today:
📧 [email protected]
☎️ 03000 42 06 73
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📸 Image ID: Shown here is an engraved depiction of the Chapel at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Sandwich. G. Maxwell del., A. Bannerman sculp. Published by William Boys, 1787.
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Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (MEMS) | University of Kent | Kent Family History Society | North West Kent Family History Society | The Kent Archaeological Society | Maidstone Museums | British Association For Local History - BALH | Visit Maidstone | Maidstone Borough Council | Kent County Council | Maidstone Libraries | Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives | The National Archives | Explore Your Archive

22/08/2026

Join us tomorrow (Sunday 23rd August) at Kent Miners' Festival, taking place at Betteshanger Park near Deal, from 10:30am - 4pm 👷🏻‍♂️⛏️
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Stop by our stall to learn about our collections and services, view a selection of original mining-related documents, and celebrate East Kent's mining heritage with us at this free-to-attend event.
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You'll also be able to enjoy...
🎼 Live music
🚌 Vintage buses and classic vehicles
🏰 A bouncy castle, games and crafts for younger visitors
🐐 Pygmy goats
🍔 Food and drink stalls
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Vintage buses will be running between Betteshanger Park and surrounding villages, free of charge.
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Plan your visit: www.betteshanger-park.co.uk/plan-your-visit
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Kent Miners Festival | Kent Mining Museum | Betteshanger Park | Kent Family History Society | North West Kent Family History Society | The Kent Archaeological Society | Maidstone Museums | British Association For Local History - BALH | Deal Town Council | Dover District Council | Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives | The National Archives | Explore Your Archive

12/08/2026

We'll be looking skyward tonight to enjoy the much-anticipated solar eclipse — safely, of course…
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…unlike Major Alexander Ruthven Pym, who viewed the "Titanic" eclipse of April 1912 using 'smoked glass and a telescope'. Some methods are best left in the archives! 🌒🔭😵‍💫
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The "Titanic" eclipse acquired its nickname owing to the tragic sinking of the famous ocean liner only two days prior. It was a hybrid solar eclipse: a rare astronomical event in which the Sun appears completely hidden by the Moon from some locations, whereas from others, a thin ring of sunlight remains visible. The area on Earth from which a total eclipse could be seen in April 1912 was extremely narrow, measuring only around 1.3 km (0.8 miles) wide at its maximum, and the Sun was completely covered for just two seconds.
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We hope you have an enjoyable and safe ocular experience this evening. For those of you who might have missed the chance to secure some solar-safe glasses, why not make a pinhole camera or put your colander to work as a scientific instrument?

For safe ways to watch the eclipse: www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gdxyjnz3do
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📸 Image ID: Shown here is a diary entry documenting the “Titanic” Eclipse of Wednesday 17th April 1912 [ref. U2500/F1/6]. Comprising a phase diagram and an amateur photograph of the event, the entry was penned by Major Alexander Ruthven Pym; a British Army officer, farmer, and Chairman of Kent County Council. It’s one of several diaries we hold by Pym, collectively spanning 1906-1971 (with the exception of 1908).
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British Astronomical Association | Royal Astronomical Society | Royal Observatory Greenwich | UK Space Agency | Kent Family History Society | North West Kent Family History Society | The Kent Archaeological Society | Maidstone Museums | British Association For Local History - BALH | Maidstone Libraries | Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives | The National Archives | Explore Your Archive

30/07/2026

We have recently catalogued records relating to Maidstone and Canterbury prisons [collection ref. PR] 🏛️⚖️
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The main part of the collection comprises more than 50 nominal registers which contain information about each inmate (male and female) as they entered the prisons. Covering 1881 to 1953 for Maidstone [ref. PR/Md/3/2] and 1882 to 1922 for Canterbury [ref. PR/Ca/3/2], the registers note the prisoner’s offence, sentence, age, occupation, religion, and place of birth, among other details.
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These registers will provide a wealth of information for historians researching penal institutions and criminal justice, as well as for individuals undertaking genealogical research. Careful study of the registers will allow researchers to identify patterns and trace changes in the criminal justice system over a considerable period of time.
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A small number of the registers have already been indexed but with the help of our wonderful volunteers, we're working to index the remaining volumes to make the records easier to access.
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The collection also includes a number of other fascinating items relating to Maidstone Prison, including...
• A convicts book, 1805–1833 [ref. PR/Md/3/1/1] with details of those who were transported or executed
• Calendars of prisoners tried at Maidstone assizes, 1837–1853 [ref. PR/Md/3/5/1]
• A record of executions, 1897–1930 [ref. PR/Md/3/3/1]
• Architectural plans and drawings of the prison, 1908–1979 [ref. PR/Md/5]
• Various journals and minute books kept by the gaoler, keeper, inspector, director and governor [refs. PR/Md/1/1, 2, 4, 5, 8] which provide an insight into the day-to-day running of the prison and a wide range of incidents.
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🔎 Visit our online catalogue today to explore the Prison Commission collection:
www.kentarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/GB51_PR
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Kent Police Museum | Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge | Kent Police | Metropolitan Police Museum | British Association For Local History - BALH | Kent Family History Society | North West Kent Family History Society | The Kent Archaeological Society | Maidstone Museums | Maidstone Libraries | Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives | The National Archives | Explore Your Archive

28/07/2026

Have yet to catch up with the latest news from Kent Archives?
🗞️ Summer 2026 newsletter: www.kentarchives.org.uk/archive-newsletter
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🔎 In this edition...
• Browse our lunchtime talks programme for September, October and November
• Explore how the purchase of an 18th-century long case clock led Dr Geoffrey Moss to research the Bowra family of
• Discover our newly catalogued collections
• Take a glimpse at our latest document display curated to celebrate the
• Bid farewell to our longest-serving archivist, Dr Mark Ballard, as he embarks on his retirement.
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Have yet to subscribe? Contact us today and we’ll be happy to add you to our mailing list...
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📧 Email: [email protected]
☎️ Telephone: 03000 420 673
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📸 Image ID: Shown here is an albumen photograph capturing young and senior members of Maidstone Swimming Club. It lists the club's captain as F. Griffin and the sub-captain as A. Hastie. Created by the London Photographic Co. (Maidstone and Sittingbourne), 1893 [ref. U3360/P2/2]
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Kent Family History Society | North West Kent Family History Society | The Kent Archaeological Society | Maidstone Museums | British Association For Local History - BALH | Maidstone Borough Council | Maidstone Libraries | Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives | The National Archives | Explore Your Archive

24/07/2026

It's time for another instalment of Kent Archives' Conservation A to Z 👩🏻‍🔬⚗️📜
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J is for…
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Handmade using traditional Japanese papermaking fibres and available in a range of weights, it's favoured by conservators for repairs and mounting owing to its tear strength, chemical stability and visually unobtrusive qualities.
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A closer look...
Shown here is a scrapbook containing photographs, newspaper cuttings, programmes, and other ephemera pertaining to the Maidstone Ladies’ Speakers’ Club, 1983–1990 [ref. Ch146/M2/1]
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After being accessioned and catalogued, it was necessary to remount much of the scrapbook's contents owing to the compiler's use of Blu Tack. Whilst marketed as a temporary adhesive putty, Blu Tack can fuse quite aggressively to documents and leave an oily residue if left in situ for too long. It therefore required careful removal using a spatula, scalpel, and tweezers.
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Ensuring the original arrangement of the scrapbook was maintained, we chose polyester corners to resecure the photographs but opted for a type of Japanese tissue called Tengu to remount the paper ephemera. Made from kozo (bark fibre from paper mulberry), Tengu is an incredibly thin tissue weighing only 5 gsm and can be purchased as a 15 mm wide tape, conveniently pre-coated in a water activated starch adhesive. Rather than cutting it with scissors or a scalpel, we intentionally tear Japanese tissue as this produces a feathered edge that integrates more naturally with the document’s fibres, resulting in a discreet repair. Pre-coated Tengu was the best choice for this project owing to the large quantity of ephemera that required remounting but in other cases, a conservator might opt to work entirely from scratch, using plain Japanese tissue and a hand-prepared starch paste.
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The many other uses of Japanese tissue in paper, parchment, and book conservation include mending tears, reinforcing weaknesses (fragile edges, folds, etc.), infilling losses, backing fragile documents, hinging loose material, and mounting for display.
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The Institute of Conservation | Preservation Equipment Ltd. | CXD Conservation By Design | Conservation Resources UK Ltd | Kent Family History Society | North West Kent Family History Society | Maidstone Museums | British Association For Local History - BALH | Maidstone Libraries | Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives | The National Archives | Explore Your Archive

22/07/2026

Back in June, Kent Archives attended a major two-day conference exploring the history of the Cinque Ports from the 13th century to the present day, hosted in the medieval splendour of the Stone Hall at Dover’s Maison Dieu 📜⚓
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Among the original documents we displayed were the 14th-century Treaty of Dover [ref. U269/O342] and the 1392 Act of the Brodhull, with its six wax seals of the ports of Hastings, Winchelsea, Rye, Romney, Hythe and Sandwich [ref. Do/CPb1].
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Attendees enjoyed presentations given by medieval historian Professor David Carpenter of King’s College London; Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh of the University of Kent and the Canterbury Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (CAMEMS); and Dr James Lloyd, Archivist of the College of Arms and former Project Cataloguer at Kent Archives.
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Proceedings ended on a high note with the sounding of Dover’s medieval Burghmote Horn from the lofty gallery (see video clip). Thought to date from the 16th century, the copper alloy instrument was historically used to summon civic assemblies and meetings of the borough authorities. It was also blown to bring Dover’s freemen together when communal action was required, and to gather townspeople when silt needed clearing from the harbour entrance to allow ships to enter the port. Stolen in 1969, the horn was fortunately recovered in 2016 and returned to its role as a symbol of the town’s enduring civic heritage 📯
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Maison Dieu Dover | The Confederation of Cinque Ports | Maritime Kent Special Interest Group | The Kent Archaeological Society | Dover Museum | Dover District Council | British Association For Local History - BALH | Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives | The National Archives | Explore Your Archive

18/07/2026

Our thanks to Dr Michelle Crowther and all those who attended her fascinating lunchtime talk earlier this week on the life and literary works of S. C. Nethersole 📖✍🏻
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This free talk was given as part of Kent Libraries and Archives wider support for the National Year of Reading, a nationwide initiative encouraging people to read more for pleasure. The campaign promotes a simple message: “If you're into it, read into it” — and what better way to bring a subject that you love to life than at your local archive?
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Just a reminder that our lunchtime talks programme takes a well-earned holiday in August but we look forward to welcoming you back in September for our next instalment. Details to follow soon... 🧑🏼‍🏫 👀
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National Literacy Trust | Department for Education | The Reading Agency | BookTrust | The Queen's Reading Room | British Library | British Association For Local History - BALH | Kent Family History Society | North West Kent Family History Society | The Kent Archaeological Society | Visit Maidstone | Maidstone Borough Council | Maidstone Libraries | Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives | The National Archives | Explore Your Archive

08/07/2026

Back in May, we hosted a visit from the Boughton Monchelsea group of the Trefoil Guild 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼
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A branch of Girlguiding UK, the Trefoil Guild is a national organisation comprising 20,000+ members belonging to over 1,000 guilds. Visiting Kent Archives for a bespoke tour, the group were taken behind the scenes to view our Digitisation Suite, Conservation Studio, Strong Rooms and Archives Workroom, meeting our team along the way and gaining an insight into our daily activities. The visit concluded with an opportunity to view documents from our collections relating to Girl Guiding and Boughton Monchelsea.
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The display featured (among other things) the earliest minute book of the county executive committee, 1928–1939 [ref. Ch48/A1]; a small collection of photographs, 1936–1957, including shots of Lord and Lady Baden Powell, mounted on card and autographed by them, and of Jane Colquhoun driving the Princess Royal at Windsor World Camp, 1957 [ref. Ch48/Z2]; and a photograph of a group of schoolchildren and Girl Guides posing during a service held on The Down, Lamberhurst, on 19 July 1919 [ref. LAM 2].
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🔎 To learn more about the Trefoil Guild and find your local group, visit their website: www.trefoilguild.co.uk
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Trefoil Guild | Girlguiding | British Association For Local History - BALH | Visit Maidstone | Maidstone Libraries | Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives | Kent County Council | The National Archives | Explore Your Archive

Address

James Whatman Way
Maidstone
ME141LQ

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+443000420673

Website

https://www.kentarchives.org.uk/

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