Supporting Our Heritage

Maidstone Museums' Friends

Run by Maidstone Museums' Foundation (MMF), Registered Charity No. 802547

President – VICTORIA WALLACE DL

Maidstone Museums’ Friends are part of a charitable, independent organisation set up to lead people’s appreciation of and support for these Museums – their buildings, collections, displays and interpretation, educational activity, research and much more. This is achieved through co-ordinated voluntary effort.

Latest News

Petula-Clarke-Maidstone-Zoo-small

Future Queen and Petula Clark add post-war lustre to Maidstone Zoo

June 2025

With the ending of World War II, Maidstone Zoo, although open during most of the conflict, resumed its mission to show off its animals and attract thousands of visitors. Since opening in 1934, some 1.5 million visitors had passed through the gates at Cobtree Manor. As Ivan White explained in his second fascinating talk about Maidstone Zoo

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Samantha Harris with a picture of one of the carriages

How Queen Victoria got around – find out in Maidstone’s “internationally significant” Carriages Museum

June 2025

Sir Hugh Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, 12 times Mayor of Maidstone, has secured his place in local history with two major achievements. He founded a zoo that attracted thousands, including the young Princess Elizabeth – later Her Majesty the Queen – for nearly 20 years. The zoo closed in 1959. But his second huge achievement is still giving pleasure to visitors, an outstanding legacy to the County Town.

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Titanic Honour & Glory Exhibition

Titanic Honour & Glory Exhibition

May 2025

Maidstone Museum is delighted to invite members to an exclusive preview of the Titanic Honour & Glory Exhibition on Friday 11th July 2025 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Maidstone Museum.
Members of Maidstone Museum Friends’ will have the unique opportunity

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Provide volunteer effort to support the work and operation of the museums

Co-ordinate and operate the Friends’ scheme

Promote the three Museums to the residents of Maidstone and beyond, helping to preserve our local heritage

Secure finance to help with the purchase of artefacts, restoration of works, research, improved display & interpretation, improvement/adaption of the buildings - through grant-giving trusts, local fund-raising activities, donations, and the Friends’ scheme.

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The Museums

Maidstone is home to some of the finest, and eclectic museums in the South East. Their artefacts and presentations cover the story of this area, the collections of Maidstone people who have travelled the world (artefacts from the Japanese Edo period, the South Pacific and North America), the West Kent regimental museum, and one of Europe’s best collections of carriages.

Donate to assist MMF in helping the Museums

Become a Friend of Maidstone Museums and enjoy these

Member Benefits

have a chance to attend exclusive Museum previews and exhibitions
attend monthly MMF talks at the Friends’ shop
be invited to relevant Friends’ Receptions:-

for all Friends
for Youth Members
for Corporate Members

help run MMF Competitions, including:-

Maidstone Young Artists Award (MYAA – biennial)
Heritage Design Challenge (for young people – biennial)

receive discounted entry to children’s activities, and 10% reduction in the Museum shop
be invited to take part in activities throughout the year
receive regular news of activities and events by email, in addition to all the news on our website and social media

Enjoy all of these wonderful benefits when you

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Join the family of people who support Maidstone’s Museums

Obtain a 25% discount for Museum special exhibition entry

Be invited to take part in activities throughout the year

Gain an insight into what goes on behind the scenes

Be able to be involved in volunteering opportunities

Receive discounted entry on advertised Museum events

Enjoy all of these wonderful benefits when you …

Find out what's happening at MMF ...

Receive a bi-monthly MMF e-newsletter, keeping you informed of news and activities

Members comment

Christine Miller

Joining MMF has helped me feel a more personal contact with the Museums. Its events pre-covid- were excellent and I am looking ahead to some bright new ideas from them as soon as we are able to meet properly again. Have been impressed with contact via the Friends' newsletter, enjoyed seeing the old Maidstone photograph exhibition at the MMF pop up shop, and seeing children interacting with the dinosaur there. Well done everyone.

Maria

Having recently joined the Maidstone Museums' Foundation. we have had the opportunity to experience the Museums after itheir reopening. Taking the grandchildren to see the dinosaurs has been a monthly treat for them and the staff are excellent and very knowledgeable. Thank you Maidstone Museums' Foundation.

Bill

MMF membership has given me the opportunity to support this valuable and essential asset that Maidstone has. It also gives us the chance to further investigate and enjoy the Museums’ superb and varied exhibits.

Now you know more about Maidstone Museums' Friends

We are accepted by the Fundraising Regulator, the independent regulator for charitable fundraising in England, Wales & Northern Ireland. It says, to you, that we help promote best practice, defend the sector and demonstrate compliance with the law.

Maidstone Museums’ Friends are pleased to be members of the Association of Independent Museums.

AIM represents, connects and strengthens the UK’s independent museums and heritage organisations.

Maidstone Museums’ Friends are part of a wider network across the the UK of those local groups who support culture and Heritage. We are members of the British Association of Friends of Museums (BAFM)

Contact Us

For all questions please contact:

Mr Ivan White, MMF Membership Secretary info@maidstonemuseumsfriends.org.uk

Data Protection

MMF is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for data protection.

ICO is an independent body set up to uphold information rights.

Personal Details
MMF hold your contact details only for the purpose of keeping you informed about matters relating to Maidstone’s Museums and the Foundation. These details will be kept for a maximum of 15 calendar months after your last active paid membership expires. We will never share your personal or financial details with any other organisation. We keep your information safely and securely, and only Trustees of MMF are given access to your data Should you wish to request access, corrections or removal of your personal information please contact us by contacting:
Ivan White, MMF Membership Secretary

Photographs on the Website

We always ensure that personal data contained in photographs on this site are protected. We do this by:

making sure people in any photograph are unidentifiable unless they have given their permission; and
making sure we have authority to use the photograph.

Download MMF’s Privacy Policy

Registered Charity Number 802547

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