December 2022

MMF has been successful in raising £100,000 towards the cost of creating a new Archaeology Gallery at Maidstone Museum.

To be called ‘Lives in Our Landscape’ it will replace the existing gallery, which is in need of a revamp in its presentation, interpretation and themes.

In early 2022 Maidstone Borough Council determined to undertake this project costing £600,000*, providing £390,000 itself but seeking additional support. In March MMF agreed to mount a campaign to raise £100,000 towards this sum. It set up a sub group to handle this, established a specific strategy for the campaign, together with a timetable. The strategy set out an approach that was very broad, wishing to address multiple audiences. Thus charitable trusts, wealthy individuals, politicians, MMF itself (to pump prime the campaign), together with individual friends, were to be approached.

MMF expected this work to last about two years, so the Board is delighted that the target figure was reached in December 2022. We were assisted by one sizeable grant from a local charity (Cobtree Charitable Trust), a gift from a local major business, a Kent County Councillor (using his delegated funds), and wonderful financial support from many friends – together with the £5,000 from MMF reserves.

Our grateful thanks go to all those who supported us, or opened doors to make this possible.

The project is expected to be completed in late Spring.early Summer 2024.

* the remaining £110,000 funds needed to complete the £600,000 are being met by a sizeable contribution from another local charity (the William and Edith Oldham Charity) and some support from the Kent Archaeology Society.