Museums
Ashford Borough
Museum
The museum is situated in Ashford's historic churchyard right next
to the town's
Tourist Information Centre and opposite St
Mary's Parish Church.
The building was erected in 1635 to house Ashford Grammar School.
It has many of the original features of a 17th century schoolroom
and has a wide range of memorabilia of this old market town.
Many of the exhibits remind us that in World War 11, Ashford was a
frontline town. For nearly 150 years it had an important railway
works. There are displays of an old chemist's shop and other local
traders and organisations. Visitors can also see a video of the
town's old buildings. This year also sees the opening of the
Gurkha exhibition which can be found on the first floor.
There is disabled access to the main building and a large
car park in Vicarage
Lane nearby.
For more information please telephone 01233 631511.
Agricultural Museum,
Brook
The museum is housed in a 14th century barn and an 18th century
oast house and the collection comprises just about everything from
when the horse was the power around the farm.
Visit the Brook Agricultural
Museum website for details of special events for the
forthcoming season.
The museum has a shop and toilet facilities including those for
disabled people. Access to the museum for the disabled is possible
but because of the nature of the site it is difficult in
places.
The museum is in the centre of Brook and can be accessed using minor roads from
the A28 at Wye or near
junction 10 of the M20.
For more information please telephone 01304 824969.
Tenterden &
District Museum
Opened in 1976, the Tenterden Museum is housed in an attractive
weatherboard building originally built in 1850 as a stable and
store. Other buildings reflecting the vernacular industrial style
of the 19th century are nearby.
The collections are broad in type, ranging from agriculture and
industry to textiles and archives, with very strong potential as a
learning resource for local history.
The museum enjoys an excellent town centre position 25 yards
from the High Street bordering two large car parks, one of which
has excellent toilet facilities with a summertime coach park, all
en route to the Kent
& East Sussex Railway Station.
The “Tenterden Tapestry” is a nine-panel embroidery-collage made
by local children depicting the history of Tenterden from when it
was just a ‘den’ or clearing in the wood to today’s vibrant market
town.
For more information please visit the Tenterden Town website and
click on 'local attractions' or telephone 01580 764310.
The C M Booth Collection
of Historic Vehicles
Very much a personal collection built up over 45 years, housed
in a museum building that cannot be seen from the road, you must
first enter the ‘Falstaff Antiques’ shop at 63 High Street,
Rolvenden.
A special interest is Morgan cars; there are 20 in the
collection, with a least 12 on display dating from 1913 to 1936.
Other vehicles include the only known Humber tri-car made in 1904,
a 1929 Morris van that used to deliver the ‘Royal Mail’, a 1929
Ford Model ‘A’, a 1936 Bampton Caravan, early motorcycles from 1911
and bicycles and tricycles from 1880.
Other collections include toy and model cars, old advertising
signs, petrol pumps, badges and garage equipment.
Each year around 12 vehicles are used on the road, taking part
in events and visiting club meetings.
If you or anyone you know used to own a Morgan, then we would
very much like to see any old photographs.
Unfortunately wheelchair access is not possible.
For more information please visit The C M Booth Collection of
Historic Vehicles website or telephone 01580 241234.
Woodchurch Village Life Museum
Housed in a 17th /18th century timber-framed barn and cart shed,
the museum tells the story of Woodchurch Parish and the collection has an
almost exclusively Woodchurch provenance.
Artefacts range from vehicles to tiny coins and flints, with
ages spanning the entire period of Woodchurch’s known history from
3,000 BC onwards. The professionally designed gallery places great
emphasis on interpretation. We welcome bookings from schools or
groups and can provide guides to match group needs, including
outreach visits.
The first floor houses a study centre, open by appointment. Its
collection of books, periodicals, archives and parish records
supports those wishing to research Woodchurch’s history.
All the museum (including the toilets) is wheelchair-
accessible, except for the study centre. Special arrangements can
be made for those affected by this limitation.
Special exhibitions are periodically staged. In addition the
museum organises the annual “Wings & Things” Air Show – for
details visit the Woodchurch Warbirds
website.
For more information please visit the Woodchurch Village Life Museum
website or telephone 01233 860240.
This webpage was updated on
5/28/2010