Tenterden and District Museum

About the museum

Tenterden and District Museum is a local history museum in Station Road, Tenterden, in the Kentish Weald. It is housed in a two-storey weatherboarded building, one of the last in the town of a type of industrial building that was common in the area in the later nineteenth century.

The museum was set up in 1976 and opened to the public the following year. It has always been run entirely by volunteers, who steward the rooms, lead tours, care for the collection and keep the building clean. It is accredited by Arts Council England and belongs to the Wheels of Time group of Kent museums.

Six rooms tell the story of the town and its surroundings. They cover Tenterden's past as part of the Cinque Ports, Victorian police, fire, school and trade displays, a recreated 1960s home, farming and hop growing, local buildings and theatre, and the history of the Tenterden and District Motorcycle Club. A reserve collection holds objects that are not on display, and a small shop sells local souvenirs, crafts and books.

Highlights

• Entrance room on Tenterden as a Cinque Port, with a ship-building diorama
• Victorian kitchen, a fire engine and the Tenterden Tapestry in the 19th Century Room
• Recreated 1960s kitchen and sitting room with recorded memories of local residents
• Agriculture Room with hop-production tools and a silent film of hop picking
• Motorcycle Club room with a Second World War Rudge motorcycle
• Mouse trail for children around the museum

Permanent exhibition

• Museum rooms – Six permanent rooms cover the Cinque Ports, Victorian town life, a 1960s home, farming and hop growing, local buildings and the Tenterden motorcycle club.

Founded

1976

Admission & discounts

Adults pay £3. Children, students, members and other concessions are admitted free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The ground-floor rooms are step-free, and a user-operated stairlift serves the first floor. Information is available on audio handsets and interactive screens as well as on labels and wall boards. Two Blue Badge spaces are in the public car park opposite the entrance (charges apply 7am to 6pm). An accessible toilet is across the road; ask the steward on duty for the key. Service dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Children can look for the History Explorers badge for puzzles and games, follow the museum mouse trail, or take the Tenterden Family Fun Trail around the town (paper copy at the museum or PDF download). Regular school-holiday sessions introduce children to local history.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Station Road, Tenterden. A paved path leads up to the entrance.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A small shop sells Tenterden souvenirs, locally made art and craft pieces and local interest books.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit