Museums

Court Hall Museum
Closed for the foreseeable future.
Address: High Street, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, Kent
For further information contact Catherine Herbert, 01795 424341               01795 424341      
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 1 mile / 5 mins 

Kent Battle of Britain Museum
Website
The museum is the oldest established and largest collection of Battle of Britain artefacts on show in the country.
Address: Aerodrome Road, Hawking, Nr. Folkestone, Kent, CT18 7AG
Telephone: 01303 893 140               01303 893 140      
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 43 miles / 51 mins

Kent Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Website

St. Peter's Place, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2DA

Tel: 01227 785625

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 16 miles / 31 mins.

Opening hours:  Mon - Fri, 10:00 - 12:00    14:00 - 16:00 / 1st and 3rd Saturdays, May to September, 11:00 - 14:00

Click here to view a film about the museum and library.

Kent Police Museum
Website
The history of the Kent Police Force from its start through to modern times.
Address: The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent. ME4 4TZ
Telephone: 01634 403260               01634 403260      
Opening Times:
February Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday
(we re-open Sunday 22nd February 2009) 12.00 to 16.00hrs
March/April Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 12.00 to 16.00hrs
May - Wednesday & Thursday 12.00 to 16.00hrs. / Sunday 13.00 to 17.00hrs
June to September - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday* & Saturday* 12.00 to 16.00hrs / Sunday 13.00 to 17.00hrs October - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday*, Saturday* & Sunday 12.00 to 16.00hrs.
November - Sunday 12.00 to 16.00hrs.
December Closed
January Closed
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 11 miles / 22 mins

Maison Dieu Museum, Ospringe
Website
For group bookings please call 01795 532755               01795 532755      
Open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 2pm to 5pm, from Easter Bank Holiday to the end of October.
Address: Ospringe Street, Ospringe, Kent
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 7 miles / 14 mins

Maidstone Museum
Website
Opening Times
Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 17.15
Sunday 11.00 - 16.00
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
Address: St.Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LH
Telephone: 01622 602838               01622 602838      
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 12 miles / 18 mins

Museum of Kent Life
Website
Come and explore 28 acres of fun for every generation, from hands-on activities forkids to age-old farming traditions...
Opening Times:
Summer Season: 2 Apr to 6 Nov
Weekends & Holidays - 10am to 6pm, last admissions 5pm
Weekdays - 10am to 5pm, last admissions 4pm
Winter Season: 7 Nov to 31 Mar 2011
Open Daily
10am to 4pm, last admissions 3pm.
Closed Christmas Day (25 Dec), Boxing Day (26 Dec) and New Years Day (1 Jan)
Address: Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3AU
Telephone: 01622 763 936               01622 763 936      
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 12 miles / 21 mins

RNLI, Chatham
Website
Opening Times
Monday - Sunday including bank holidays
12 Feb - 30 Oct: 10am - 6pm (or dusk if earlier)
Nov: weekends only, 10am - 4pm
Dec and Jan: closed
Address: Lifeboat!, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ
Telephone: 01634 823 800               01634 823 800      
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 10 miles / 20 mins

Royal Engineers' Museum
Website
Opening Times
Open - Tuesday to Friday - 9.00am to 5.00pm
Open - Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holiday Mondays - 11.30am to 5.00pm
Closed - Monday, Christmas week and New Years Day
Address: The Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME4 4UG
Telephone: 01634 822839 / 01634 822839   

Click here to view a film about the Royal Engineers' Museum.

Sittingbourne Heritage Museum
Website
67 East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent
Allen Whitnell, Chairman      
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Open Saturdays
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 0 miles / 5 mins

Tenterden and District Museum
website
Address: Station Rd, Tenterden. TN30 6NH
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 29 miles / 53 mins

 Archives & Repositories

Canterbury Cathedral Archive
Website
Canterbury Cathedral Archives, The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2EH
Tel: +44 (0)1227 865330               +44 (0)1227 865330      
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Monday - Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday Closed (except for special classes and group tours)
Saturday (1st and 3rd in the month) 9am - 1pm
Regular closures include all Public Holidays, and Cathedral Schools Day (usually the 2nd Tuesday in November). In addition we are closed in January (usually the second fortnight) for stocktaking.

The Centre for Kentish Studies (CKS)
Website
Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone ME14 1XQ
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sunday - Closed
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - 9.00am - 5.00pm
Wednesday - 9.00am - 5.00pm
Thursday - 10.00am - 5.00pm
Friday - 9.00am - 5.00pm
Saturday - 9.00am - 1.00pm (2nd & 4th of the month)

Click here to view a film about the new archive centre being constructed in Maidstone. 

East Kent Archives Centre
Enterprise Zone, Honeywood Road, Whitfield, Dover CT16 3EH
Telephone: 01304 829306               01304 829306      
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Opening Hours
Sunday Closed
Monday Closed
Tuesday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Wednesday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Friday Closed

Historic Environment Record
Heritage Conservation Group, Invicta House, County Hall, Maidstone, ME14 1XX
Tel: 01622 696919               01622 696919      
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: Heritage Gateway

The Historic Environment Record (formerly known as the Sites and Monuments Record), is an extensive collection of information relating to Kent's heritage. The database contains information about 20,000 archaeological discoveries and 17,000 listed buildings, landscapes, excavations and library sources. The HER also contains more than 4,000 archaeological reports as well as aerial photographs and maps.

The HER can be viewed online but the aerial photographs and reports are only available at County Hall in Maidstone. If you would like to visit, please book an appointment, at least 2 days in advance as space is limited, by either calling or emailing us.

Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne Archive
HRGS Archive, Phoenix House, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4BX
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: HRGS

Marden History Group & Heritage Centre
Website
For further information contact: Mr David McFarland
Marden Library and Heritage Centre, High Street, Marden, Kent, TN12 9DP
Telephone: 01622 832295               01622 832295      
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Opening Hours:

Tuesday 1.15pm to 6.00pm
Thursday 1.15pm to 6.00pm
Friday 9.00am to 1.30pm
Saturday 10.00am to 2.00pm

Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre
Civic Centre, Strood, Rochester, Kent, ME2 4AU
Telephone: 01634 332714               01634 332714      
Fax: 01634 297060
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Opening Hours
Monday, Thursday, Friday 09.00-17.00
Tuesday 09.00-18.00
Wednesday Closed
Saturday 09.00-16.00
Stocktaking first two full weeks in November annually

Sittingbourne Library
Library Catalogue
Central Avenue, Sittingbourne, ME10 4AH
Tel: 01795 476545               01795 476545       / 01795 477041               01795 477041      
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Opening Hours

Sunday Closed
Monday 9.00am - 6.00pm
Tuesday 9.00am - 6.00pm
Wednesday 9.00am - 6.00pm
Thursday 9.00am - 8.00pm
Friday 9.00am - 6.00pm
Saturday 9.00am - 5.00pm

Local Groups and Societies

Charing and District Local History Society
Society Secretary, Sarah Pearson - 01233 712772               01233 712772      
The Charing and District Local History Society has around 100 members living in Charing and the surrounding parishes. The main activity is a monthly lecture programme on a wide range of historical subjects, usually including talks on recently completed historical research by experts from around the county.

DKR Surveys
DKR Surveys is an amateur organisation undertaking geophysical surveys in Kent. DKR can be contacted through the HRGS.

The Faversham Society

Kent Archaeological Field School
Website
Kent Archaeological Field School School, Farm Oast, Graveney Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8UP
Tel: 01795 532548               01795 532548       or 07885 700 112               07885 700 112

Kent Archaeological Society
Website
Tel: Philip Lawrence on 01622 871945               01622 871945      
The society publishes a quarterly magazine, a copy of which goes into our library, containing news and views.

Kent History Federation

Lynsted with Kingsdown Society
Website
Membership Secretary, Kevin Barrett (Beggars Roost, Lynsted, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 0RL)
The Society is keen to study and promote the Parish through events, both educational and social, and by sharing resources. There are plans to make those resources widely available (including to the local primary school and library). Areas of interest include social history, history of buildings, archaeology, countryside habitat, traditional crafts and skills, folklore, place names, genealogy and much more.
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the Parish, including those who once lived here and who use the Society Website as one means of keeping in touch. Membership forms can be printed from the Website or requested from the Society Membership Secretary . Annual Fees (2005): Single membership costs £12; Joint membership costs £20.

Marden History Group & Heritage Centre
Website
For further information contact: Mr David McFarland
Marden Library and Heritage Centre, High Street, Marden, Kent, TN12 9DP
Telephone: 01622 832295               01622 832295      
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Opening Hours:

Tuesday 1.15pm to 6.00pm
Thursday 1.15pm to 6.00pm
Friday 9.00am to 1.30pm
Saturday 10.00am to 2.00pm

The Rodmersham Society
Formed initially to raise funds for St Nicholas' Church, Rodmersham, in 2005.
Contact: John Fisher, Tel: 424952 or Jenny Radcliffe, Tel: 01795 471703               01795 471703      

Sheppey Family History Club
Website

Sittingbourne Family History Society
For further information contact: Mr K.F. Lainton,
Algarve House, 140 Borden Lane, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8HW

The Sittingbourne Society
Contact: Michael Baldwin, 01795 423288               01795 423288      

The Society’s main objectives are to keep a watchful eye on planning and development schemes in the town, to seek the preservation of the best architecture and buildings of historic interest and to press for improvements to the environment and essential amenities. The Society is a registered charity and participates in the town’s social activities and organises functions for its members.

Libraries

Canterbury Cathedral Library
Website
Canterbury Cathedral Library, The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2EH
Tel: +44 (0)1227 865287               +44 (0)1227 865287      
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Monday - Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday Closed (except for special classes and group tours)
Saturday (1st and 3rd in the month) 9am - 1pm
Regular closures include all Public Holidays, and Cathedral Schools Day (usually the 2nd Tuesday in November). In addition we are closed in January (usually the second fortnight) for stocktaking.

Kent Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Website

St. Peter's Place, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2DA

Tel: 01227 785625

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 16 miles / 31 mins.

Opening hours:  Mon - Fri, 10:00 - 12:00    14:00 - 16:00 / 1st and 3rd Saturdays, May to September, 11:00 - 14:00 

Click here to view a film about the museum and library.

Minster in Sheppey Library
Worcester Close, Sheerness, Kent ME12 3NP

Tel: 01795 872363

Sittingbourne Library
Library Catalogue
Central Avenue, Sittingbourne, ME10 4AH
Tel: 01795 476545               01795 476545       / 01795 477041               01795 477041      
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Opening Hours

Sunday Closed
Monday 9.00am - 6.00pm
Tuesday 9.00am - 6.00pm
Wednesday 9.00am - 6.00pm
Thursday 9.00am - 8.00pm
Friday 9.00am - 6.00pm
Saturday 9.00am - 5.00pm 

Newspapers

East Kent Gazette Newspaper
1855 - present day

1857 to 2008 issues of the East Kent Gazette are available to view on microfiche at Sittingbourne Library.

Kent Messenger Newspaper
Website

Formerly the Maidstone Telegraph, first published in 1859.
The Kent Messenger Group also own The Kentish Gazette, formerly The Kentish Post, first published in 1717.

Timeline
1717 Kentish Gazette was founded
1855 Kentish Express was established
1859 Maidstone Telegraph was launched
1884 Barham Pratt Boorman started the Kent Examiner & The Ashford Chronicle
1890 The Maidstone Telegraph was acquired by Barham Pratt Boorman. The Ashford Chronicle and the Maidstone Telegraph are now part of the Kent Messenger
1928 Henry Roy Pratt Boorman succeeded as the Editor on his father's death
1959 Edwin R P Boorman began his career with the Company
1968 Evening Post was launched in the Medway towns
1971 Kentish Express joined the Group
1980 Kentish Gazette, Herne Bay Press and East Kent Mercury joined the Group
1981 The first Extra was launched in Thanet
1987 Sheeness Times Guardian and Faversham News joined the Group
1992 Evening Post was re-named Kent Today
1993 Kent Business was launched
1995 Dartford & Swanely Informer joined the Group
1998 Gravesend Messenger, Dover Mercury, Adsmart and Kent & Sussex Auto Weekly were launched
1999 Sittingbourne edition of KM was launched, Medway edition of Kent Today re-named Medway Today and TLR (Thanet Local Radio) joined the group
2000 Internet site sales began
2001 CTFM (Canterbury radio) and Neptune (radio station in Folkestone and Dover) joined the group
2002 Mercury Medway (Medway radio) and Mercury 96.2 & 101.6 FM (Tonbridge Radio) joined the group and were renamed KM-fm for Medway and KM-fm for West Kent respectively. CTFM was renamed KM-fm for Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay.
2003 TLR was renamed KM-fm for Thanet, Neptune was renamed KM-fm for Folkestone, Dover and Deal and Medway Messenger was launched 0n 7th April.
2004 Sevenoaks Extra was launched on April 23rd, Bexley Extra was launched on May 7th and in August JICREG confirmed KMG titles had a joint weekly readership of over 1 million people at 1,050,000. KM-fm for Folkestone, Dover and Deal was renamed KM-fm for Shepway and Whitecliffs Country and Bromley Extra was launched on August 20th.

The following issues are available to view at Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone:
1906-1910, 1912, 1913, 1915, 1917-1926, 1929-1939, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1946-1950.

Sheerness Times / Sheerness Guardian
1858 - present day

Microfilmed copies of the Sheerness Times and Sheerness Guardian are available to view at Sheerness Library.  

Some of these have been indexed and can be viewed online at Rootsweb.