insideKENT Magazine Issue 32 - November 2014 | Page 105

DAYSOUT

MUSEUMS IN KENT
The word ‘museum’ may send some people straight to sleep; think the same old exhibits,
traipsing around dull buildings, constantly wondering when lunchtime will come. However,
dig a little deeper, and a bevy of beautiful, bombastic and bizarre exhibitions are begging
to be discovered in Kent. Visit Kent has compiled a list of museums that are sure to keep
every generation entertained for hours.
PHOTOS © VISIT KENT

The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex Park

This magnificent
80-acre site is the
perfect meeting of
old and new,
housing several
museums as well
as numerous fun
activities and sights
for all ages to enjoy.
Start with a trip to
the dockyard’s
most recent
addition, No. 1
Smithery, a
museum and
treasure house that showcases unique and previously unseen maritime
artefacts, and national and international touring art. Then be inspired by the
innovation and bravery of the dockyard workers of the 19th and 20th
centuries with a visit to the Valour, Loss and Sacrifice exhibition, which
allows visitors to trace the site’s story from Victorian times through to the
World Wars. Finally, a trip to the BIG museum store of really BIG ‘things’
is a must if you want to appreciate why size really does matter.
www.thedockyard.co.uk

Explore one of the most
interesting natural history
museums in the UK with a
trip to the Powell-Cotton
family’s extraordinary
collection of treasures.
Established in 1896 by
Major Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton, this Birchington-based museum
houses hundreds of specimens and curio collected on expeditions to Asia
and Africa. See numerous dioramas of mounted mammals in representations
of their natural habitats, unique to the UK and noted for their size, quality
and visual impact. Further galleries feature local archaeology, textiles,
weaponry and a range of ceramics, plus jade and ivory from Europe, China
and Japan. In addition, the 15th-century Quex Estate boasts beautiful 15acre gardens and offers excellent dining options with year-round events.
www.quexpark.co.uk

Crabble Corn Mill
See Georgian and Victorian engineering excellence at work using one of
nature’s most powerful forces – water. Crabble Corn Mill, near Dover, is
one of the finest working examples of a Georgian watermill in Europe.
Rescued from demolition and opened to the public in 1990, the 19thcentury mill offers six floors of exhibits and milling machinery that each
describe the process of turning wheat into flour – you can even buy their
wholemeal flour on site. In 1999, the mill won the prestigious Presidents
Award from the Association for Industrial Archaeology. Fancy a visit? This
wonderful museum is run by a team of dedicated volunteers, who are only
too happy to guide you around this hidden gem of architectural and historical
heritage.
www.ccmt.org.uk

Finchcocks Musical Museum

Kent Life

Think classical music is boring? You won’t after a visit to Finchcocks. Behind
the doors of this Georgian manor in Goudhurst lies not only a collection of
more than 100 historic keyboard instruments, many of which are still in
working order, but also a wide range of cacophonous contraptions too.
A staff of professional musicians give demonstrations throughout the year,
and players of all ages are invited to experience first-hand the sounds that
composers such as Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Brahms made
as they created their masterpieces. During your visit, you can also enjoy
The Cellar Restaurant, gift shop and beautiful gardens.
www.finchcocks.co.uk

Get your boots on
and prepare to get
muddy this season,
with a trip around
one of Kent’s most
interactive
museums. This 28acre vintage village,
near Maidstone, is
packed with
historical buildings,
Kentish gardens, and a working farmyard, which ensures visitors get a real
taste for Kent’s agricultural heritage. Moreover, while there are plenty of
hands-on activities for the kids that are both fun and educational – animals
to cuddle, tractors to ride, historic buildings to explore – you can relax in
the fabulous onsite café and take in the smells and colours of the Kentish
gardens. www.kentlife.org.uk

For further information on Kent's fabulous museums and more, go to www.visitkent.co.uk.

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