Research & Loans

We welcome enquiries from researchers, students and members of the public.

Our Collections Team can:

• Provide information from our records
• Share images where available
• Advise on objects and collections

In some cases, it may be possible to arrange an appointment to view items. Access is by appointment only and subject to staff availability and the condition or location of objects.

To make an enquiry, please contact the Collections Team via email.

We consider requests to borrow objects from our collections from:

• UK Accredited or Registered museums and galleries
• Recognised international equivalents.

All loan requests are subject to:

• Object condition and suitability
• Environmental and security requirements
• A formal approvals process.

We are unable to lend to private individuals.

To discuss a potential loan, please email the Collections Team.

We can offer limited help with identifying objects where they relate to Maidstone or to areas covered by our collections.

Where possible, please provide:

• Clear photographs
• Any known background information

Please note we cannot provide valuations or formal authentication.

We carefully assess all potential additions to the collection.

We are most interested in objects that:

• Relate directly to Maidstone and the surrounding area
• Add something unique to the existing collections
• Are supported by clear provenance and information

Please contact the Collections Team before bringing in or sending any items.

For specialist or wider research, the following organisations may also be helpful:

• Kent History & Library Centre
• The National Archives
• Kent Archaeological Society
• Portable Antiquities Scheme
• Kent Photo Archive.

Collections Team
Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery,
St Faith’s Street,
Maidstone,
Kent ME14 1LH
Email: collections@maidstone.gov.uk
Telephone: 01622 602838