Collection: Sandwich Guildhall Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  Museum

  The museum was first set up in the attic of the Guildhall. Access at that time was not possible for those with disabilities. In 1980, a purpose-built museum was set up on the ground floor with professional advice and planning. The old museum in the attic was retained as an archive with a reception room for the public to visit and view the collections. Other rooms were designated for storage and a library. The reference library contained many mass-produced history books covering Sandwich and wider Kent, as well as historically significant books.

  Many of the earlier documents within the museum’s collection are housed in Maidstone History and Library Centre as part of the county archives. These are on loan and are still owned by the museum’s governing body, Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund, but were placed in care there before the museum was established.

  In 2016, the museum was awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £100,000, which allowed for it to be redesigned to have a more modern and clear approach. At the heart of this project was the returning of the 1300 Magna Carta and Charter of the Forest to Sandwich from the Kent History and Library Centre.

  The current museum tells the story of Sandwich from the Mesolithic period through to the Second World War and includes the opportunity to visit the 16th century courtroom.

  Collection

  When referring to “the collection”, this includes the entire historic collections within the Guildhall, all of which are maintained by the governing body, Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund. The first items to be accessioned from 1991 onwards included many received from Sandwich Borough Council, dated pre-1973, or from unknown sources. The first entries include:

  • Military items, some dating back to the Boer War, including medals, documentation, photographs, buttons, and badges. These also cover the First World War and Second World War and include items from the Air Raid Precaution office which was housed inside the Guildhall. These are related to local forces such as the Cinque Port Volunteers, the Sandwich Volunteer Force, and the Kent Volunteer Rifles.
  • Cinque Ports material such as ship money for Sandwich, model vessels and items related to the Lord Wardens.
  • Wax seals and brass impressions from local organisations and people including St John’s Hospital, Sir Roger Manwood’s School, Sandwich Corporation, Carmelite Friars, Port of Sandwich Customs, and the Mayor of Sandwich.
  • Items related to crime and punishment including police truncheons and several pairs of steel handcuffs, linked cuffs, and ankle cuffs.
  • Items of earthenware.
  • Balancing scales and weights, including apothecary scales, portable scales, and tradesmen’s scales. In addition, a complete set of town weights and measures, including one with the Sandwich Coat of Arms embossed on it.
  • Roman pottery, coins, bone needle and dice discovered at Richborough.
  • Tools from different trades such as watchmakers and items from Sandwich weavers.
  • Flint tools including axes and spearheads.
  • Seashells and fossils from Sandwich Bay.
  • Glass bottles from local organisations such as breweries.
  • Large collection of photographs, photographic negatives, and glass plates, including prints from William Boyer.
  • Artwork such as oil paintings, drawings, and watercolour paintings of the town and significant figures in the town throughout history.
  • Large collection of postcards showing different scenes of the town.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Sandwich Guildhall Museum’s collection has expanded over time and now contains a large range of items. Work is currently being carried out to tackle the backlog in relation to the organisation and documentation of the collection. Although all items that are accessioned are done so into the museum’s collection, owned by Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund, it can be thought of as being in several separate categories, which will be noted in the Collections Management System in the future.

  Museum Collection (Including Archival Holdings)

  Artefacts

  Categories for these items include social history, military history, archaeology, and artwork. Key artefacts include Sandwich’s piece of a Coronation Canopy, a Henry Weigel painting of Sandwich Court Sessions, two scenes on painted panels depicting Catherine of Braganza’s visit to Sandwich and the Battle of Sole Bay, a significant collection of trading coins and tokens, and the copper-alloy Roman bowl, which is on loan to the museum. Items from this collection, specifically paintings and wall mounted objects, are displayed throughout the Guildhall building.

  Paper Collection

  Within the museum’s collection are the archival holdings specific to the collecting criteria that are likely to be used in exhibitions, this includes paper items such as posters, books, documents, maps, photographs, postcards, and cartes-de-visites. Significant items include the 1300 Magna Carta and Charter of the Forest, tithe maps for the Parish of St Mary’s and St Clements and a unique Window Tax document. A portion of this collection is held at the county archives in the Kent History and Library Centre.

  Handling Collection

  The museum has a small number of items previously used for outreach work. The museum will collect material for the handling collection and educational purposes where appropriate.

  Furniture Within the Guildhall

  The Guildhall itself is of historical interest, therefore it is likely that furniture within the building should be included within the museum’s collection and treated as such. This includes the interior of the 16th century courtroom, in particular the judges chair and the lion and dragon figures. It also includes furniture in the Mayor’s Parlour and Council Chamber, such as the Mayor’s chair, and other items throughout the Guildhall including two parliament clocks.

  Sandwich Town Council Institutional Archive

  This includes documents related to the operations of Sandwich Town Council, including minutes and reports from council meetings, housing information, and information about services within the town. These date from 1973 to the present day, when the town council was formed.

  Borough of Sandwich Archive

  Sandwich Borough Council existed until 1973 when the town was incorporated into Dover District Council and Sandwich Town Council was formed. For this reason, the collection contains a large amount of housing documents associated with the Borough of Sandwich. This collection also contains information about wartime life in Sandwich.

  Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund Institutional Archive

  As Trustee of the Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund, the council holds reports and minutes from the charity’s meetings. In the past these have been deposited into the collection. The Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund Institutional Archive has three branches, which are as follows:

  • Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund Institutional Archive
  • Sandwich Guildhall Institutional Archive (Operations)
  • Sandwich Guildhall Museum Institutional Archive (Operations)

  Reference Library

  The museum also holds a small reference library for internal and external research purposes, which contains information specific to Sandwich, areas of Kent, the twinned towns and notable people or events. These items are usually mass produced or created by the Local Historical Society. This collection also currently contains some historically significant books.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC