Discover how Dover’s historic Maison Dieu has been conserved and try out some of the techniques!

Drop into Maison Dieu House and the Biggin Hall as part of Heritage Open Days on Sat 7 September (11am to 4pm) to meet the conservators and enjoy creative activities for all the family!

Location:

11-16, Biggin Street, Town Centre, Dover CT16 1BD

Maison Dieu House, Biggin Street, Dover CT16 1DW

· Meet the team from Arte Conservation and discover some of the techniques used to reinstate William Burges’ decorative scheme in the Connaught Hall and Mayor’s Parlour.

· Chat to stained-glass conservators from Easthope Stained Glass who’ve cleaned and conserved the building’s impressive stained-glass windows.

· Find out fascinating facts and stories about Maison Dieu portraits from oil paintings’ conservator Rebecca Gregg, a regular participant in BBC1’s Fake or Fortune.

· See stonemason Carrie Horwood of Cats Eye Carving at work and have a go at stone carving. Spot our Magnificent 7 grotesques!

· Stencil your own decorative dragon, parrot or flower detail.

· See a William Burges lion-headed chair in close-up detail and find out how they were cleaned and conserved from our dedicated team of Furniture Conservation Volunteers

· Watch film and time-lapse footage of conservation in action including work to conserve the Maison Dieu’s regimental colours.

· Find out how to join the Friends of the Maison Dieu.

Free drop-in activity. No need to book in advance.

Meet the Conservators has been developed in partnership with Arte Conservation, Easthope Stained Glass, Rebecca Gregg Conservation and Cats Eye Carving as part of the Reawakening the Maison Dieu National Lottery Heritage Fund project to transform and make accessible this Grade I listed building.

For further information please contact Martin Crowther (Maison Dieu Engagement Officer). Email martin.crowther@dover.gov.uk

The event forms part of Dover district’s impressive contribution to the UK-wide Heritage Open Days programme (Britain’s largest festival of history and culture) with over 50 sites opening to the public for free between 6 and 15 September. Homepage (heritageopendays.org.uk)