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; hearing about the day-to-day work of an archivist in collecting, accessioning and cataloguing archives and describe them 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 county 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 remote users alike. The tour will be supplemented with a small display of original archival material selected to chime with the HOD’s 2026 theme and celebrate the National Year of Reading at the same time. It is entitled 'Every Day's a School Day: Learning and Literacy in Bygone Kent'.

Timings

Saturday 19 September:

Archives Tours 1000 & 1400; Archives Exhibition 0900–1700;

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:

Numbers are limited so booking is essential.

Booking telephone number:

+443000420673

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking opens:

13 Aug 2026 12:00 AM

Booking closes:

19 Sep 2026 08:00 AM

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 Archives areas are situated on three floors. The tours involve some walking including up and down the main staircase, but there is a lift. The strong room does not have windows or natural light, and this can affect those prone to claustrophobia.

Additional information

Max number of people:

12

Estimated duration:

2 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

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