St Margaret’s Museum
Small free museum at the Pines Garden in St Margaret’s Bay, focused on local Second World War history and famous former residents.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
St Margaret’s Museum stands on the site of the Pines Garden at St Margaret’s Bay, close to the White Cliffs near Dover. It is run by the Bay Trust, an environmental education charity formed in 2009 when the St Margaret’s Bay Trust and the Rippledown House Trust merged. Both predecessor trusts were set up through the Cleary Foundation, with the help of the local environmentalist and philanthropist Fred Cleary.
The museum is small and concentrates on local life during the Second World War, with quiet period music sometimes playing. It also tells the story of well-known former residents of the bay, including Noel Coward and Henry Royce, and describes the work of the Bay Trust’s education centre at Rippledown House in Ringwould.
Objects are shown in glass-topped wooden cabinets, alongside two Morrison shelters used as tables, and information boards in large print. The Bay Trust says the museum is due to be modernised in future with new interpretation.
Highlights
- Local Second World War history in a small, atmospheric display
- Two Morrison shelters used as museum tables
- Stories of former residents Noel Coward and Henry Royce
- Original handwritten wartime documents in glass-topped cabinets
- Next to the Pines Garden and tea room
Permanent exhibition
- Local history and the Second World War – Small display on wartime life around St Margaret’s Bay and on former residents such as Noel Coward and Henry Royce.
- Founded
- 1989
- Operated by
- The Bay Trust
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry to the museum is free; donations are welcome.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The garden, tea room and museum are at ground level, with a 4-metre ramp from the disabled parking bay and a 1.1 m double door into the tea room and museum. An accessible toilet is in the museum (no assistance cord at present). There is no hearing loop and no braille in the museum; interpretation boards use large print. Dogs on leads are welcome in the café, visitor centre and garden. The road and steps down from the nearest bus stop are very steep.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bay Hill bus stop · 300 m
Buses between Deal and Dover call at St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe; the Bay Hill stop is about 300 m away, followed by a footpath and more than 200 steps down to the entrance. Martin Mill station is 4 km away (no visitor shuttle; accessible taxis available).
By car
Free parking
About 25 free spaces on St Margaret’s Road and about 10 on Beach Road; priority goes to hirers when the Pines Calyx is hired. A free car park is in St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe (1.6 km) and a pay and display beach car park is 250 m away.
- Accessible parking
Satnav postcode CT15 6DZ. The King Charles III England Coastal Path passes through the garden.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
The Pines Tea Room (also called Pines Garden Café) next to the museum serves lunch, light bites, drinks and cake.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The museum is accessed through the Pines Tea Room, opposite the main entrance to the Pines Garden. Leaflets and a donation box are near the entrance. |
|---|
