"Supporting Medway's Heritage"

ABOUT

The Friends of the Guildhall Museums is a group which supports the work of two important but very different elements of Medway’s heritage - the Guildhall Museum in Rochester and the Old Brook Pumping Station in Chatham. Supporting the Guildhall Museums will help conserve our local history for generations to come through specialist events and opportunities designed to educate and inspire, telling the stories of the Medway Towns.

GUILDHALL MUSEUM

Situated in the heart of historic Rochester, The town's magnificent 17th century Guildhall Museum is a lively and colourful treasure trove of Medway's history. The Museum is home to thousands of objects that illustrate the history of Medway – its river, its people, and its development through time.

The Guildhall’s Court Hall or Main Chamber with its magnificent 17th century ceilings donated by Admiral Sir Cloudsley Shovell, was immortalised by Charles Dickens in his novel Great Expectations.

The Guildhall Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00am-5.00pm. Closed on Mondays

Admission is free.

OLD BROOK PUMPING STATION

The Old Brook Pumping Station lies in the centre of Chatham. Opened in 1929 its purpose was to solve Chatham's drainage problems by lifting lift foul water away from the lowest part of the town. Now listed as an ancient monument, the Pumping Station was operational right up until 1980 and the engines are still in full working order. This fascinating museum is managed and maintained by the Medway Industrial Archaeology Group with the support of Medway Council.

The Old Brook Pumping Station is open from 11.00am-3.00pm on Saturdays from June to September and on the first Saturday in the month from October to May.

Admission is free.

Membership of the Friends offers opportunities to become involved in the activities of the museums and have a say in the development of the services and facilities they offer. Members receive regular news updates, invitations to exhibition previews and access to a programme of specially organised events.

By paying a small subscription every year our members know that they are both helping to preserve our unique heritage and providing opportunities for it to be enjoyed by today’s visitors.