Dover Town Hall - The Maison Dieu

Dover

Type:Historic Site

Biggin Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1DL

Tel: +44 01304 201200

Dover Town Hall - The Maison Dieu

About

The Maison Dieu, the oldest of the Town Hall buildings, was founded by Hubert de Burgh, then the Constable of Dover Castle in 1203.

It was not then built, as many have thought, as a church, but to provide short term accommodation for pilgrims travelling to the shrine of Thomas a Becket at Canterbury, and for the care of wounded and destitute soldiers.

Over the last 800 years the building has seen many owners and fulfilled many functions from military store to Council Chamber, from centre of local justice and punishment to concert hall. The Maison Dieu contains a collection of arms and armour and some fine paintings. It is also home to the famous unique Zeebrugge Bell given to Dover by the King of the Belgians in 1918.The painted stained-glass windows depict notable historic events and date from 1873.

In the mid-19th century, the Maison Dieu was extensively restored by the prominent Victorian architects Ambrose Poynter and William Burges.

The Reawakening of The Maison Dieu is a programme of conservation and restoration work started in September 2021 and due to be completed in 2024, so future visitors can enjoy Burges’s unique decorative features. During the project there will be a programme of activities and events taking place at the Maison Dieu.
.

Book Tickets

TripAdvisor

Map & Directions

Opening Times

2024 (1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024)

What's Nearby

  1. Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery

    Dover Museum, the district's largest and most varied museum, has a range of fascinating…

    0.28 miles away
  2. Dover Castle

    Discover 2000 years of history at Dover Castle! Step inside the Great Tower and immerse…

    0.5 miles away
  3. Dover Sea Safari

    A unique family coastal tour like no other in Dover. Step aboard our comfortable RIB…

    0.55 miles away
  1. Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and Queen's Regiment Museum


    The collection traces the history of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment through four…

    0.55 miles away
  2. White Cliffs of Dover

    Images and information about the White Cliffs of Dover, one of Britain's most iconic and…

    1.3 miles away
  3. Fan Bay Deep Shelter

    Take a journey into the past on a guided tour of Fan Bay Deep Shelter in the White Cliffs…

    1.36 miles away
  4. Kearsney Abbey Park and Russell Gardens

    Enjoy an afternoon out at the popular Kearsney Parks - Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens…

    2.14 miles away
  5. Samphire Hoe

    Samphire Hoe is an amazing place, made from the chalk marl excavated from the…

    2.19 miles away
  6. The Pines Garden, Tea Room & Museum

    Organically grown Pines Garden situated behind the White Cliffs has six acres of many…

    3.5 miles away
  7. Battle of Britain Memorial

    The National Memorial to the Few at Capel-le-Ferne, on the famous white cliffs between…

    5.13 miles away
  8. Walmer Castle & Gardens

    This castle was built in 1540 as part of Henry Vlll's chain of coastal defences. See the…

    6.41 miles away
  9. Folkestone Library, Museum and Art Gallery

    A new interpretation of the story of Folkestone with many hands-on features and archive…

    6.43 miles away
  10. Deal Bandstand

    The Deal Memorial Bandstand Trust stages a series of 'free' public concerts on the…

    7.21 miles away
  11. Tides Leisure Centre

    Visit the indoor tropical lagoon at Tides Leisure Centre, Deal for some family fun this…

    7.29 miles away
  12. Deal Castle

    Deal Castle is one of the finest artillery works in England; this fortress once carried…

    7.49 miles away
  13. Sandgate Beach


    Just west of Sandgate Town Centre beach, this is a quieter single beach. A lovely spot…

    7.63 miles away
Previous Next