Research enquiries

The museum currently has a hold on behind the scenes appointments for the public and researchers. As an alternative we can send you information from our records and images of the item(s) if available. Please note, we cannot accept researcher visits without an appointment.

The museum currently has a hold on the donation and acquisition of objects so cannot accept items at this time. Please note, we cannot accept unsolicited donations sent by post or brought into the museum.

Many thanks for your patience. When we do restart acquiring objects and arranging researcher appointments, please see the below information:

We at Maidstone Museum are always happy to support the research and study of items from our collections, and our Collections Team will be able to offer the guidance and advice necessary to support your work.

Our preferred contact method is currently via email but we can also be contacted at:

Maidstone Museums
St Faith’s Street
Maidstone
ME14 1LH
01622 602838

Useful resources and contacts for enquirers

Resource	Details
Resource:Kent History & Library Centre	Details:For local history and archive enquiries
Resource:Kent Archives and Local History Service	Details:Online catalogue with listing records held by Kent County Council
Resource:The National Archives	Details:For millions of family history and military records
Resource:Kent Family History Society	Details:The largest and oldest Family History Society in Kent
Resource:The Army Personnel Centre – Historical Disclosures Section (HD)	Details:Has access to army records dating back to the 1920s and can supply copies of documents to the next-of-kin of deceased former soldiers and officers
Resource:Kent Photo Archive	Details:Showing images of Kent, including thousands from Maidstone Museums’ collections
Resource:BBC Your Paintings	Details:Oil paintings in Maidstone Museums’ collections
Resource:Julius Brenchley Collection	Details:Maidstone’s New World Explorer, detailing the Native American Collections of the local Gentleman Explorer, housed at Maidstone Museum, a project in collaboration with Canterbury Christchurch University
Resource:Cornucopia	Details:Details of some of the collections held by Maidstone Museum
Resource:Art Fund	Details:Works purchased for the museum collection with assistance from the Art Fund
Resource:Kent Archaeological Society	Details:Housed in Maidstone Museum
Resource:Portable Antiquities Scheme	Details:Details recorded finds nationally of metalwork over 300 years old, with thousands listed for Kent. A very useful source for identifying and recording field walking and metal detecting finds
Resource:Kent Historic Environment Record (formerly the Sites and Monuments Record)	Details:The HER is a database of archaeological sites, finds and buildings in Kent
Resource:Visit Maidstone	Details:For information on the history and heritage of the town and borough
Resource:Involve	Details:For other volunteering opportunities in the area

Advice for collection donors, identifications, and researchers

Donations

We are grateful to be offered material, but generally only accept objects that say something unique and specific about Maidstone borough, its environment and its people, and items that do not duplicate those already in our collections and which come with rich supporting information. If you would like to donate an object, please contact the Collections Manager to discuss the matter.

“Will it go on display?” is a frequent question from prospective donors. The majority of the museum’s collection is held in storage, but here it is accessible to researchers and available for future displays. (Please note we are not currently taking object donations)

Identifications

Maidstone Museum can only help with the identification of objects associated with Maidstone, or similar to items held in its collections. Please contact the Collections Team to make an appointment if you would like to bring an object for identification.

It may be possible for us to carry out an identification of your artefact from a good quality digital photograph. Please provide as much background information as possible about the object, such as where and when you acquired it, the material (if known), good quality digital image, etc. Due to pressure on the service, please allow twelve (12) weeks for identifications to be processed.

Identification information provided is the opinion of the identifier only; we are unable to provide an authentication or valuation service.

All archaeological finds should be reported to your local Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) under the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Details for the Kent and Medway FLO are:

Finds Liaison Officer
Heritage Conservation
Kent County Council
Invicta House
Maidstone
Kent
ME14 1XX
03000 413401
FLO@kent.gov.uk

Researchers

Maidstone Museum encourages the study and use of the collections by researchers. Please ensure that an appointment is arranged before your visit, as we reserve the right to temporarily close access to collections if staff is unavailable or there are practical reasons for restricting access. Collections or objects may not always be available for research for a variety of reasons and there are constraints on the number of items which can be viewed during an appointment.

To make an appointment, please contact the Collections Team. Download our full policy with access details.

Commercial reproduction

Commercial reproduction requests should be submitted using the contact form on this page.