Kent History & Library Centre

The encounter with Kent’s archives during our tour can make a lasting impression. Seeing a large number of archives gathered together in one place in our strongrooms. Experiencing a personal closeness to documents that are hundreds of years old. Watching the reprographer explain and demonstrate the Phase One camera and the minute level of detail it captures, and tell the story of the ongoing digitisation and indexing programme. Witnessing an archivist’s work: the collecting, accessioning and cataloguing undertaken in order to process newly taken-in material and describe it in their finding aids. And stepping into the spacious and well-equipped Conservation Studio, devoted to the physical care of books and documents, to see its features and examples of items undergoing conservation treatment. All this, we are confident, will help those who take the tour understand how Kent’s biggest archive office functions, how a record becomes an archive, preserved for future generations, and how we strive to make the collections accessible to in-person and distance users alike. The tour will be supplemented with a small display of original archival material on the HOD’s theme and special Storytime and Craft and Lego Club activities for children reflecting the same theme.

Tours are limited to 12 people per session. The exhibition and children's activities are unlimited.
Tours must be pre-booked, all other activities do not require booking in advance.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 07 September:

Archives Tours 1000-1100 & 1400-1500; Archives Exhibition 0900–1700; Storytime and Craft activity 10:30–11:30; Lego Club 14:30-15:30

Location & directions

James Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LQ

Directions:

The KHLC is situated next to the ‘White Rabbit’ roundabout on the A229 Royal Engineers Way, and next door to the Gallagher Stadium – home of Maidstone Utd F.C.

Contact on day:

Mark Bateson

Telephone number:

+443000414852

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Tours are limited to 12 people per session. The exhibition and children's activities are unlimited. Tours must be pre-booked, all other activities do not require booking in advance.

Booking telephone number:

+443000420673

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking opens:

05 Aug 2024 12:00 AM

Booking closes:

06 Sep 2024 05:00 PM

Accessibility details

The Kent History and Library Centre has no car park. There are metered parking bays in James Whatman Way. The nearest public car park is probably that of Maidstone East railway station. That station and Maidstone Barracks station are around 10 and 15 minutes’ walk away respectively. The Arriva bus 101 stops outside the Centre. The Archive strongroom has no windows and can cause discomfort for those prone to claustrophobia. The archives areas are based on three floors of the Kent History and Library Centre and the tours access them all. There is a lift as well as a staircase.

Additional information

Max no of people per tour:

12

Est. tour duration:

1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)

Check out our online channels

Back to results