Elvington & Eythorne Heritage Centre


A fascinating small museum and archive of the East Kent Colliery, which first produced coal in 1913.

Elvington & Eythorne Heritage Centre is an Attraction. Area Deal, Dover

Where

Elvington Community Centre
St John Road
Elvington
CT15 4DZ

Useful info

  • Available: Family-friendly
  • Available: On-site parking (charges may apply)
  • Available: Visitor toilet/s
  • Available: Coach parties welcome
  • Available: Accessible toilet/s
  • Available: Wheelchair user friendly
  • Not available: Dog-friendly

Admission

Free entry

Contact

Run by dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers - members of the Elvington and Eythorne Heritage Group - this small museum and valuable archive of mining life in East Kent is a fascinating place to visit for anyone interested in social history and the history of the area in general. 

The centre is home to detailed archives, including house building, local press and village life, and mining memorabilia from the coal mining villages of Elvington and Eythorne, the parish of Waldershare and Tilmanstone Colliery (the East Kent Colliery). 

The archive material (including original copies of photographs, maps and plans) is an invaluable resource for researchers. 

Opening times

Tuesdays from 10am to 2pm

  • FREE entry (donations welcome; there may be a charge for talks)
  • FREE parking
  • School groups welcome - talks can be arranged
  • University students, academics and authors are welcome to view the archives
  • Groups welcome, including WI, U3A, special interest groups, coach tours, cruise excursions, and others.

If you would like to bring a group, please email the heritage group in advance eandehg@hotmail.com

B&W photo of about one hundred men sat on a building site.
Houses were needed for the miners and their families and 1927 saw the start of a period of intense house building in the area.
Access

The centre is on the first floor of Elvington Community Centre, but there is a lift for wheelchair users and those who find walking up stairs difficult.

Volunteers

The heritage centre is run entirely by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the heritage group.

Cricket items and mining memorabilia on shelves
Some of the items on display at the heritage centre.

Together with Kent Mining Museum at Betteshanger Park and the East Kent Railway at Shepherdswell, the heritage centre helps build a rich picture of Kent's coalfield years.