Collection: Folkestone Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The origins of Folkestone Museum are synonymous with the misfortune of antiquarian and fossil enthusiast Mr. Samuel Joseph Mackie. His financial troubles in 1856 were personally disastrous, but they started a series of events which resulted in the formation of the first temporary museum in Folkestone. As part of the liquidation of his assets, his large collection of fossils was put up for auction on 18 February 1857. A group of local tradesmen bought them for £33, and subsequently passed their interest to J. G. Breach, the proprietor of the Pavilion Hotel. He gifted the collection to the Town Council, with a request that it should be accessible and form the foundation of a town museum. Eventually a room was hired in Tontine Street for one year to be used as a temporary museum.

  Natural History formed the nucleus of the original museum collection and remains an important part of the collection today, with wonderful specimens of butterflies, shells and fossils of national significance. In the early days of the museum, a Natural History Society was formed in 1868 with Henry Ullyett as the society’s principal proponent. One of the main aims of the society was to establish a proper museum in more suitable premises.

  In 1888 the library, reading room and museum was established at Grace Hill. The museum collections were transferred into the care of the Folkestone Borough Council in May 1888, and moved to the new building. It is this collection, the nucleus of which is Samuel Mackie’s collection of local fossils, which has since been added to. The collection has developed to reflect the historical development of the town through archaeology, social history and fine art. In 1924 Amy Master donated an important folio of works on paper, including Italian and Spanish Old Master drawings and original engravings by Albrecht Dürer.

  Shepway District Council was created through the reorganization of local government in 1974. There was a brief hiatus in management of the museum until Kent County Museum service took over and reorganized the museum collection. Much of the collection went into long term storage in the Folkestone library and to various sites in Maidstone.

  In 2007, Folkestone Heritage Working Group was established by Folkestone Town Council, to work towards the creation of a new Folkestone Museum. In June 2011 Folkestone Town Council purchased the Town Hall. The findings from a feasibility study were submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund and evidenced that the Town Hall provided the Town Council with a suitable space to achieve their aspirations for the new museum. In April 2013 Kent County Council officially agreed to gift the old Folkestone Museum collection to the Town Council. The collection was loaned by Kent County Council initially, and gifted (with transfer of title) to Folkestone Museum once the museum gained Accreditation status.

  Folkestone Museum opened in Folkestone Town Hall in spring 2017. All acquisitions by the museum since this opening go to Folkestone Museum under the authority given to the museum by its governing body, Folkestone Town Council, with their approval of this policy.

  In 2023, the trustees of Creative Folkestone gifted the Metropole Collection (a collection of 20th century contemporary art collected by the New Metropole Arts Centre) to Folkestone Museum.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2024

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The collecting area of Folkestone Museum includes the town of Folkestone and the surrounding Folkestone and Hythe District Council area – excluding Hythe itself, as Hythe has its own museum.

  Until the Second World War, Folkestone Museum was a regionally important centre for collecting geology and natural history specimens. Many of the original fossils, geological and natural history objects, including birds’ eggs butterflies and shells remain in the collection today.

  Folkestone’s important archaeological past is represented by artefacts such as those from the Roman Villa on the East Cliff and an Anglo-Saxon skeleton, whilst various objects and documents record the maritime history and development of the town as a seaside resort.

  The museum also holds two significant collections of art. The Master collection of 16th-19th century prints and drawings, and the Metropole Collection of 20th century contemporary art. The Museum also holds a range of pictorial items of local topographical and biographical interest.

  Collection Descriptions

  There are approximately 11000 records of accessioned items in the collection – c.40000 in total. In addition, there are c. 500 objects that still have temporary numbers and c.70 unaccessioned objects which have formally entered the collection.

  Agriculture

  We hold a small amount of agricultural material.

  Archaeology

  Folkestone’s archaeological past is represented by over 400 artefacts, notably objects from the town’s Roman Villa and Anglo-Saxon remains. The archaeology collection does not contain any objects from after 1066.

  Arms & Armour

  Military history relating to Folkestone and the surrounding area.

  Biology

  We have over 5000 natural history specimens including birds’ eggs, butterflies and shells.

  Costume / textiles

  There are 150 items of costume and textiles in the collection.

  Fine Art

  There are 879 pieces of art, including the Master collection and the New Metropole Collection.

  Geology

  Folkestone is a regionally important centre for geology and the museum holds c.600 specimens.

  Maritime

  Various documents and artefacts record the maritime history of the town.

  Numismatics

  The collection had over 1130 coins and medals. A number of these were stolen in the 1990s. At present, 90 objects are ‘missing’, ‘lost’ or do not have a location on our Collections Management software.

  Social history

  We hold over 1300 items recording the development of the town and the people who lived in it – the earliest objects in this collection are from the 1720s.

  Transport

  The collection includes a small number of transport items.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2024

  Licence: CC BY-NC