Visit the refurbished Maison Dieu on its opening weekend
Following a major multimillion pound investment, and two and a half years of amazing upgrades and conservation work, we are delighted to be opening the doors of the Maison Dieu to the public from 10 May - including a special opening weekend on 10/11 May.
This is the first time it will be permanently open to the public in its 800-year history, and residents are warmly invited to come and see the painstaking restoration work that has brought this building’s historic features back to their original glory.
Visitors can admire the stunning interiors first created by architect William Burges, view the beautifully restored paintings and armoury on the walls, and appreciate the carefully preserved stained glass windows as they change colour in the light.
Nine brand new touch screen interactive displays, films and audio points highlight the colourful history of visitors from times gone by, and younger residents can take part in a variety of fun activities as they enjoy exploring the building.
Our volunteer guides will be ready and waiting to proudly show off the Connaught Hall, Stone Hall and Council Chamber – all of which will host a range of community events and be available to hire for private occasions, such as a conference, meeting, party or a wedding. The new building can accommodate small groups through to large occasions.
Going forward, we’ll be offering guided tours and a packed events programme, with live music, festivals and even wrestling. Remember to pick up an events leaflet on the day.
Opening weekend visitors will be able to:
Importantly, the Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall) is now more accessible, with a new street-level entrance on Biggin Street and a lift inside.
This ambitious £10 million project has been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and made possible thanks to National Lottery players. It has also been funded by DDC, Dover Town Council, The Dover Society and the Wolfson Foundation.
Chief Executive of DDC Nadeem Aziz said: “The Maison Dieu holds so many special memories for our residents and is a restoration project that we know has been long awaited by our community.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone enjoying this magnificent building and what it has to offer as it becomes the heart of Dover once again.
“The Maison Dieu will further enhance the town as a place to visit. For the first time in its history, the new building will be free to enter and open seven days a week.”
Notes
The £10.5m reawakening of the Grade I Listed Maison Dieu has seen the restoration of internationally significant decorative schemes by the renowned Victorian neo-Gothic architect William Burges, and a new street-level visitor entrance to the Connaught Hall, along with improved access throughout the building.
The project creates a sustainable future for the Maison Dieu by bringing redundant spaces back into commercial use, including restoring the Mayor’s Parlour as a holiday let in conjunction with the Landmark Trust, and a unique new café in the space once occupied by Victorian gaol cells.
The Maison Dieu’s opening times will be:
For all enquiries, please email maison.dieu@dover.gov.uk or visit the website www.maisondieudover.org.uk
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in its strategic plan, Heritage 2033.
Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Posted on 23 April 2025