We are delighted to confirm that Coniston, the main contractor for the Maison Dieu project, has completed the works to the building and has this week handed it back to Dover District Council.
This follows two-and-a-half years of careful conservation and upgrades to the building, and painstaking restoration work to bring historic features back to their original glory, including stunning interiors created by architect William Burges.
Importantly, the Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall) is now more accessible, with a new accessible street-level entrance on Biggin Street and a lift inside.
As you can imagine, moving back into a building of this size takes some time.
We have furniture to install, paintings and armoury to go back on the walls, training for new staff members, caterers to get used to the new kitchens and some bars to stock ready for you all to enjoy.
The team is working hard to get everything ready for the opening in May 2025, when we throw open the doors to this magnificent building once again.
Going forward, we’ll be offering guided tours and a packed events programme, with live music, festivals and even wrestling. There is also a range of stunning rooms for you to hire for your own private occasions, whether that’s a community event, a conference or a wedding.
This ambitious £10 million project has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and made possible thanks to National Lottery players.
It has also been funded by DDC, Dover Town Council, The Dover Society and the Wolfson Foundation.
Leader of DDC Cllr Kevin Mills said: “We are delighted to have the Maison Dieu back and are working hard on the final key touches ahead of the May opening.
“This is the council’s biggest restoration project to date, and the amount of work by all those involved is quite simply staggering.
“We can’t wait to welcome the community in to see the transformation that has taken place to bring this magnificent building back to life.
“Come May, the Maison Dieu will once again be the heartbeat of Dover, playing a central role in the future of the town as a leading heritage and cultural centre in Kent.”
To find out more, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at https://www.maisondieudover.org.uk/about-us/project-progress
Notes:
The £10.5m reawakening of the Grade I Listed Maison Dieu has seen the restoration of internationally significant decorative schemes by the renowned Victorian neo-Gothic architect William Burges, and a new street-level visitor entrance to the Connaught Hall, along with improved access throughout the building.
The project creates a sustainable future for the Maison Dieu by bringing redundant spaces back into commercial use, including restoring the Mayor’s Parlour as a holiday let in conjunction with the Landmark Trust, and a unique new café in the space once occupied by Victorian gaol cells.
Once open in May 2025, the Maison Dieu will be permanently open to the public for the first time in its 800-year history.
Project funders/partners include the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Wolfson Foundation, The Landmark Trust, Dover District Council, Dover Town Council, and the Dover Society.
Posted on 10 March 2025