Guildhall Museum
The Guildhall Museum is one of the finest 17th-century civic buildings in Kent, and houses a collection that charts Medway's history.
Founded in 1897, the museum boasts a rich collection that takes you on a chronological exploration of the region, from its Roman beginnings right up to the present day.
Historical collection
The museum's collection encompasses a wide range of artefacts spanning centuries. Highlights include a full-size reconstruction of part of a Medway prison hulk, a ship used to house convicts. There is also the chance to handle a 200,000-year-old axe, while those with a keen eye for design can appreciate the world's most comprehensive collection of 18th-century cabinetmaker's tools. The museum also features displays dedicated to Medway's maritime heritage and everyday Roman life.
Charles Dickens
The Making of Mr Dickens is a new permanent exhibition where you can explore the author’s life in Medway, and discover the people and places which shaped his complex personal and public life and inspired him to create some of the best-loved stories in English literature. Even the Guildhall itself featured in Dickens’ Great Expectations.
Other attractions in the Medway area include Restoration House and the Huguenot Museum, both in Rochester and The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
Visitor information
Address
High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1PY
01634 332680
Opening times
Tue – Sun, 10am – 5pm (last admission 4.45pm)
Visitor information
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.