Museums and Heritage Centres

Ashford has a number of museums, heritage centres and archives. These are used to preserve and promote the borough’s rich history and heritage. The links below provide more information about each site.

Ashford Borough Museum

The museum is located in the Church Yard in the town centre. It has displays that cover the town’s history. This includes lost businesses, archaeological finds, smuggling, the part Ashford played in both World Wars and railway memorabilia.

The museum celebrated its 30th birthday in 2019. To celebrate, a new exhibition on Ashford's Victorian police force. This includes a real life prison cell – the perfect size for misbehaving children!

Ashford Borough Museum
Ashford town centre TN23 1QG

Brook Rural Museum

Brook Rural Museum is located in the village of Brook. Housed in period buildings, you can find a collection of items linked to the agricultural history of Kent.

Agricultural Museum
Brook TN25 5PF

The Colonel Stephens Railway Museum

The Colonel Stephens Railway Museum is located in Tenterden. It records the life and work of Holman Fred Stephens who was a light railway promoter, engineer and manager.

The Colonel Stephens Railway Museum
Tenterden TN30 6HE

Pluckley Heritage Centre

This Pluckley Heritage Centre is a Heritage Lottery funded project. It is located at the back of St Nicholas’ Church, Pluckley. Take a step inside to learn about the history of the church and the people who have lived here over the last few hundred years.

Pluckley Heritage Centre
Pluckley TN27 8RT

Rolvenden Layne Sound Museum

The Rolvenden Lyne Sound Museum is located on the corner of Maytham Road and Winser Road.  Housed in a telephone box, you can listen to a number of pre-recorded sound files celebrating local history, culture and music. A new ‘exhibition’ will be created every few months.

Rolvenden Layne Sound Museum
Rolvenden Layne, TN17 4NR

Smarden Heritage Centre

The Smarden Heritage Centre is located at The Charter Hall, Smarden. It forms part of the Smarden Local History Society. It contains original and digital historical material around the village's history, its society and architecture.

Smarden Heritage Centre
Smarden TN27 8NF

Tenterden and District Museum

The Tenterden and District Museum shows the history of the town and the Cinque Ports. It highlights the rich history of the area.

Tenterden and District Museum
Tenterden TN30 6HN

Willesborough Windmill

Willesborough Windmill is one of the largest smock mills that is still active in the south of England. Take a visit to see how wheat is ground to make flour.

The windmill celebrated its 150th birthday in 2019. This was marked by a series of special events. Visit their website below for more information.

There is also a commemorative floral tribute in Ashford's Memorial Gardens.

Willesborough Windmill
Ashford TN24 0QG

Woodchurch Village Life Museum

The Woodchurch Village Life Museum is located in Woodchurch. it is housed in an 18th century barn and 17th century shed.

Woodchurch Village Life Museum
Woodchurch TN26 3RE

Wye Heritage Centre

Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of the Kent village of Wye and Wye College.  Each month, Wye Heritage Centre hosts a new display covering an aspect of the history of the village of Wye and Wye College.

Wye Heritage Centre
Wye TN25 5AH