Maidstone Museum: Local Heritage Week

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Join Maidstone Museum for their annual Local Heritage Week, dedicated to celebrating and spotlighting the histories and stories of Maidstone, the County Town of Kent. Enhance the week with a visit to our new Oldham Gallery, exploring Maidstone’s history from the 16th century to the present day. 

DETAILS

Maidstone Museum: Local Heritage Week

7-11 September 2026

Monday 7th September
7 to 8:30pm
Witchcraft in Kent: The Archaeological Evidence with Wayne Perkins
Discover how archaeologists uncover clues such as witch bottles, protective charms, and other ritual objects that reveal local fears, beliefs, and everyday practices from centuries ago. A fascinating look at the county’s supernatural history along with an examination of the witch trial which took place in Maidstone in 1652.

Tuesday 8th September
7 to 8:30pm
Crime, Community and the 60s: Reflections from the Front Line
Join former policeman Mick Abbott  as he shares his experiences of working in the town during the 1960s and 70s. Offering a grounded, day‑to‑day perspective on local policing, he will discuss routine duties, the kinds of incidents officers commonly dealt with, and how the role adapted to gradual changes within the community and the police service.

 
Wednesday 9th September
7 to 8:30pm
Accused of Witchcraft: Remembering Maidstone’s Forgotten Victims
Step back into a darker chapter of Maidstone’s history with Claire Kehily and uncover the stories of those once accused of witchcraft. This thought-provoking event explores the fears, beliefs, and injustices that led to ordinary people being suspected and persecuted. Through historical insight and reflection, we remember the lives affected and consider what their stories reveal about society, then and now.
 

Thursday 10th September
7 to 8:30pm
Fortresses of Power: Exploring the Castles of Medieval Kent
Medieval historian Richard Eales traces the development of Kent’s castles and explores the debates surrounding their uses—were they military bastions, status symbols, administrative centres, or something more? Focusing on what made Kent unique in the medieval world, Eales brings together architectural evidence, historical context, and decades of scholarly insight.
 

Friday 11th September
7 to 8:30pm
Tour of Lives in our Landscape Gallery
Join Andy Ward (MA) for a guided tour of the Lives in Our Landscape Gallery. Exploring objects, landscapes and stories from across Kent, the tour will uncover how people have lived, worked and shaped the county, covering 600,000 years of Kent’s history. 

Talk ticket £10 per person per event

Tour ticket £15 per person per event

All Maidstone Museum events are based at and run by the venue.  They are only listed here for promotion only.  You cannot book through the Hazlitt Theatre box office.  For more details and to book please visit Maidstone Museum Events.