Town Hall
Tours
The Maison
Dieu 
The Maison Dieu or Domus Dei - meaning House of God,
in both its Norman French and Latin forms - was founded in 1203 by
Hubert de Burgh, Constable of Dover Castle and Earl of Kent.
The Maison Dieu and its large grounds were built as a hospice,
run by monks, to provide temporary lodgings for travelling pilgrims
on their way to the shrine of Thomas a Becket at Canterbury and for
the care of wounded and destitute soldiers and old people.
The monks soon added stables, a bakery, a brewery, farmlands and
orchards. When Henry III consecrated the chapel in 1227 he was the
first in a long line of monarchs to visit the Maison Dieu, later to
include Edward II, Edward III, Richard II, Henry V and Henry VI.
The monks were evicted in 1544 during the reformation and the
Maison Dieu and its lands were given to the Navy for use as a
Victualling Store, which supplied the English fleet for 300 years,
from the time of the Spanish Armada to the Battle of Trafalgar.
The 19th century stained glass windows in the Stone Hall depict
episodes in the history of the town and there are a number of
portraits of famous people connected with the town.
The Council Chamber was added in 1868 and the adjoining Connaught
Hall was opened in 1883.
Guided Tours
A new History Room and a regular programme of guided tours have
been created at Dover Town Hall.
On Wednesday mornings from 10am to 12 noon until 31 March 2012
visitors will be able to join a guided tour of the building led by
volunteer guides from The Dover Society. There will be a small
charge of £1 for adults (children under 16 free). Dover Town Hall
is a working building and tour routes may vary depending on
functions.
Group Information
Special tours can be organised for a minimum group size of
10 or more
Contact Derek Leach from The Dover Society on 01304 823926 /
derekriverdale@btinternet.com
to discuss options.
Contact
Dover Visitor Information Centre (01304 205108) to check tours
are running before making a special visit.