Dover Town Hall - The Maison Dieu

About

The Maison Dieu, the oldest of the Town Hall buildings, was founded by Hubert de Burgh, then the Constable of Dover Castle in 1203.

It was not then built, as many have thought, as a church, but to provide short term accommodation for pilgrims travelling to the shrine of Thomas a Becket at Canterbury, and for the care of wounded and destitute soldiers.

Over the last 800 years the building has seen many owners and fulfilled many functions from military store to Council Chamber, from centre of local justice and punishment to concert hall. The Maison Dieu contains a collection of arms and armour and some fine paintings. It is also home to the famous unique Zeebrugge Bell given to Dover by the King of the Belgians in 1918.The painted stained-glass windows depict notable historic events and date from 1873.

In the mid-19th century, the Maison Dieu was extensively restored by the prominent Victorian architects Ambrose Poynter and William Burges.

The Reawakening of The Maison Dieu is a programme of conservation and restoration work started in September 2021 and due to be completed in 2024, so future visitors can enjoy Burges’s unique decorative features. During the project there will be a programme of activities and events taking place at the Maison Dieu.
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