Latest news with #MaisonDieu
Times
08-08-2025
- Times
I've found Kent's quirkiest new stay — it's a restoration triumph
Stepping inside the flint-knapped walls of Maison Dieu, the grade I listed former town hall that has stood in central Dover since the Middle Ages, feels like entering a neo-gothic fever dream. A strange summer mist had rolled in as we approached the White Cliffs, only adding to the drama as we stumbled through a maze of ceremonial rooms, resplendent with jewel-like wall stencillings, coffered ceilings, gilded wyvern dragons and a huge, Arthurian round table fit for the next series of The Traitors. This is the Mayor's Parlour, a self-contained suite designed by William Burges as part of a Victorian extension to the original medieval building. It's the latest holiday let to be opened by the Landmark Trust in the charity's 60th anniversary year and I'm the first journalist to stay, with a group of friends. Founded by Hubert de Burgh, the Earl of Kent, in 1203, Maison Dieu (House of God) started life as a monastic hostel offering pilgrims bed and board on their way to Thomas Becket's shrine at Canterbury Cathedral, but there are many different chapters to its history. After the Reformation it became a victualling yard, supplying ship's biscuits and beer to the Royal Navy, before it was bought by Dover Corporation to be turned into Dover's town hall. In his 19th-century overhaul Burges — the flamboyant Victorian architect-designer best known for Cardiff Castle's fantastical interiors — converted the ancient fabric into a grand assembly hall, courtroom and prison cells, and added the mayor's quarters in the style of privy chambers to a medieval court. The building fell into disrepair after the council relocated in the 1980s but a painstaking £10.5 million restoration project has now permanently opened the dazzling civic spaces to the public free of charge, and the parlour for private hire by up to six people. The remains of Burges's original decorative scheme, discovered under layers of modern paint, were recreated by hand. Every single panel of stained glass — tens of thousands of individual pieces — has been cleaned and conserved. The mayor's meeting chamber is now the dining room, where that magnificent mahogany round table comes complete with a jagged piece of shrapnel from a cross-Channel shell that exploded in the street below during the Second World War, when the surrounding area was known as Hellfire Corner. What is now the sitting room was once the place where witnesses waited to appear before the Sessions Court, while the adjoining WC contains the original Victorian urinal (a more charming artefact than it sounds) and a working replica of the wooden 'Thunderbox' toilet reserved for the use of the mayor and special guests. Upstairs on the second floor, the spacious en suite double and two slightly more spartan twin bedrooms, each with access to their own bathroom, were formerly the Minute Rooms, where clerks kept the town's records. The wooden beds are deceptively comfy and the bathrooms top spec (I was particularly taken by our freestanding mustard-coloured tub). Landmark's in-house joinery team built the bespoke kitchen in what was originally the mayor's robing chamber. Kitted out with Le Creuset pans, the charity's beautiful own-brand Old Chelsea china and an eight-seat table, this is probably the parlour's cosiest communal space. We find ourselves eschewing the much grander dining room to eat, drink wine and play cards here into the early hours. As with all Landmark properties the parlour is self-catering — a pint of milk and teabags are supplied for a preliminary brew, but you'll need to bring all other provisions. There's an M&S Foodhall less than ten minutes' walk away, with plenty of parking. • Revealed: 100 Best Places to Stay in the UK for 2025 There's no TV, radio or wi-fi — another Landmark trademark — and we struggle to find a reliable phone signal, which means we're blissfully cut off from the high street on our doorstep but also, at points, each other. Trying to get two cups of tea down a corridor, through two sets of heavy fire doors (however carefully crafted to replicate surviving originals) up a stone staircase and back to bed without being able to call for a hand is a challenge. Despite the ongoing revitalisation of the Kent coast, Dover is still a town most people pass through, rather than a destination. 'Go to Canterbury,' is one local's suggestion when we ask for recommendations, but happily we find a few gems. The Hoptimist has a great range of cask ale, local ciders and craft beers, while the White Horse, the town's oldest pub whose walls are scrawled with the times of swimmers who took the amphibious route to France, serves tasty mussels steamed with cider and bacon and skin-on fries (£18.50, On our walk back to the parlour we see the Art Club ( has a live band and a 2am licence, while the Vinoteq Jazz Bar opposite looked to have a wine list worth sampling ( The next morning we tour Maison Dieu's impressive state rooms, which now host an eclectic programme of community events from the local proms to British wrestling. • Read our full guide to Kent Dover Castle commands views of the town from every angle but at £30.90 a head ( we decide we don't have time to do it justice and head instead for the chalk cliffs via Dame Vera Lynn Way. A glorious, gently undulating two-hour hike around England's southeasternmost corner takes us past Fan Bay Deep Shelter, a wartime labyrinth of underground tunnels, and the South Foreland Lighthouse, before descending past some serious property porn to the shingle beach at St Margaret's Bay, once home to Ian Fleming (007 was the number of the Dover to London bus). After a restorative pint on the Coastguard's busy, sunny terrace it's another easy two hours — our phones repeatedly pinging 'welcomes' to France — to Deal pier, with a pitstop at the weatherboarded Zetland Arms on Kingsdown's beachfront en route. • This is the UK's most overlooked coast From Deal, it's a 20-minute train ride back to Dover Priory (the station is a seven-minute walk from the Mayor's Parlour and trains carry on to Folkestone in another ten minutes). But we get off a stop early at Martin Mill and head down country lanes to the Lantern Inn ( a quirky, cosy, wood-panelled free house with a sprawling, semi-covered garden out back. We feel we've earned the 30-day dry-aged ribeye steaks, eaten under the watchful eye of Boris the pub cat, perched on his stool at the bar, before calling a taxi back to the parlour (mains from £13.50). On our last morning, the hardiest member of our party braves an early morning sea swim as giant ferries chug by, followed by a steam at Rebels sauna. The rest of us head for coffee back at the Art Club, alongside a mix of Lycra-clad Gen Z-ers and walkers in performance-wear. Although it's evident the Mayor's Parlour was never intended for domestic use — we never quite shake off a sense of roaming around an empty institution, after hours — it would be perfect for atmospheric murder mystery weekends, or combining forays along the coast with exploring the majestic history of Maison Dieu. The restoration feat is astonishing and the finish immaculate, a five-star difference from the poor pilgrim's hostel this once was. Rachel Cocker was a guest of the Landmark Trust which has three nights' self-catering for six from £663 (
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Maison Dieu Hall in Dover reopens after £10.5m refurbishment
Dover's Maison Dieu hall has reopened after a two-year refurbishment which cost £ building, which is Dover's town hall, is now permanently open to the public for the first time in its 800-year now features touch screen interactive displays, films and audio points to explain its history to visitors, with restoration work also carried out on some of its original District Council is hoping the work will bring in revenue, with previously unused parts of the building now available to hire out for functions and the former mayor's parlour now being used as a holiday let. The work was paid for by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and means the building is now fully accessible, with a street-level entrance and lift on Biggin executive of Dover District Council Nadeem Aziz said: "The Maison Dieu holds so many special memories for our residents and is a restoration project that we know has been long awaited by our community."We're really looking forward to seeing everyone enjoying this magnificent building and what it has to offer as it becomes the heart of Dover once again." Selina Papa, from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "We believe that heritage has a huge role to play in our communities, bringing people together and creating pride in place that in turn delivers wider economic benefits."The restored Maison Dieu is a great example of this and will shine a light on Dover town centre for residents and visitors for years to come."
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
English coastal town reveals plans to become popular tourist destination with £10.4million attraction revamp
AN English coastal town has revealed plans to become a popular tourist destination. £10.4million will be ploughed into the seaside location to give it a huge revamp and attract more people. 5 5 Dover District Council plans to "boost regeneration and economic growth" and the body has teamed up with private contractors. It has also decided to collaborate with developers to reinvigorate the area and make it "a place to live, work, visit, learn and invest". The body has partnered up with Willmott Dixon and Milligan, as they seek to improve public areas. Together, the companies intend to increase living areas in the town centre whilst bringing together developments that are for mixed-use. It will also include a potential public sector hub in the centre of town which will provide health and public services to those living there. This comes as the historic town hall - called Maison Dieu - is set to reopen following a huge £10.4million restoration. There is also ongoing construction at a number of sites across the town which includes The Bench Building. The huge revamp is set to make the property a centre for business, education and for creatives in the area. Ongoing construction in the town also includes the new-look Market Square. Nadeem Aziz - who is the Chief Executive of Dover District Council - explained the work will help Dover "realise its full potential as a thriving town centre". The Dorset Hamlet of Seatown is Overlooked by Brits He explained: "We know how much potential Dover town centre has and we're already seeing this with projects such as the Maison Dieu and The Bench building. "But there is so much more it has to offer and this work will help realise its full potential to create a thriving town centre. "Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, and blending public and private sector investment will create a transformational masterplan to benefit the community." The developers also gushed about the upcoming projects as they praised the potential opportunities the town will offer. Stuart Harris is chief executive at Milligan and he exclaimed: "Dover's assets, like its coastline, history, and connectivity, make it a prime location for transformation. "Working collaboratively with the council and local stakeholders, we will help shape its next chapter." 5 5 5
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Town hall restored ahead of historic opening
Restoration of a historic town hall in Kent has been completed as part of a £10.5m project which took two-and-a-half years. Coniston, the main contractor for the Maison Dieu project in Dover, has handed the site back to the council after completing the upgrades, restoration and conservation of the building. In May, the Maison Dieu will be permanently open to the public for the first time in its 800-year history. Kevin Mills, Dover District Council's (DDC) leader, said: "This is the council's biggest restoration project to date, and the amount of work by all those involved is quite simply staggering." The Maison Dieu was founded as a place for poor pilgrims to stay the night. It later became a victualling yard, making ship's biscuits and beer for the Royal Navy. Since the late 1830s it has been Dover's Town Hall. DDC said the project created a sustainable future for the Maison Dieu by bringing redundant spaces back into commercial use and creating a new cafe. The renovation of the Grade I Listed-site has also seen a new street-level visitor entrance to the Connaught Hall installed along with improved access throughout the building. Mills said: "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." The council said guided tours would be offered and events would be hosted in the site. The project has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund along with DDC, Dover Town Council, The Dover Society and The Wolfson Foundation. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Town hall restoration aims to reawaken Gothic glory Dover to be illuminated for new community event Coniston Maison Dieu Dover District Council The National Lottery Dover Town Council The Dover Society The Wolfson Foundation
