Follow a journey of human history in the Sevenoaks district…

Sevenoaks Museum exists to enhance the cultural life of Sevenoaks District by highlighting its rich past. Through preservation, research, display and creative use of its historic collection, the museum aims to deliver services which provide learning opportunities for all and improve community wellbeing, both in and beyond its physical space.

Established in the Public Library in 1929, the museum is now part of Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope, which incorporates the library and contemporary art gallery. It is managed by Kent County Council and is free to visit.

Events

Thomas Hennell: Kent Countryman and War Artist

1-15 October An exhibition of watercolours, drawings and poetry in collaboration with Sim Fine Art on the 80th anniversary of the artist’s tragic death. Join us at 2pm on Thursday…

Great Estates

The landed gentry once dominated Sevenoaks. Many people worked in the mansion houses and surrounding grounds. Significant central Sevenoaks estates in the late 18th century were Knole, Montreal, Wildernesse, Kippington,…

William Harold House photograph collection

Last year, the museum was given a collection of photographs taken by the late William Harold House. There are some 300 monochrome prints and glass plate negatives, predominantly portraits. The…

New Acquisition

An interesting item, just three centimetres in length, recently found its way to the museum through the Treasure process. This cast silver hook is engraved with decoration in the Trewhiddle…

The Collection

There are over 4,000 objects held in the museum’s collection, most of which are not on permanent display. Highlights include a mammoth tooth, Roman jewellery, medieval floor tiles, an early cricket bat, a printing press, and an embroidery made by WW2 evacuees.

We will be adding more information about the collection to the website soon.

See and Do

Displays highlight key events and people that have shaped the area, such as the town’s first fire brigade in the 1800s and the Women’s Land Army in WW2. There is a changing programme of events.

Young visitors can try on historical costumes, play with the Kent peg tiles interactive or build with bricks. There is an oral history telephone to hear about the lives of local tradespeople.

Learning and Research

School pupils can take a hands on approach to object based learning by visiting the museum or borrowing one of our outreach boxes.

Research enquiries are welcome. Appointments can be made to view objects not currently on display.

Explore our collection on Art UK, the online showcase for art in every UK public collection

Sevenoaks Museum is part of Wheels of Time®. Children aged 5-11 can collect a Wheels of Time badge together with Roamin’ Rex’s map, which shows Wheels of Time museums and heritage sites across Kent. Click on the wildcat badge to find out more.