Kent Archives and Libraries

Archives
Kent History and Library Centre James Whatman Way Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LQ UK Telephone:  03000 413131 Email: [mailto:historyandlibrarycentre@kent.gov.uk historyandlibrarycentre@kent.gov.uk] Website
 * Kent History and Library Centre replaces the Centre for Kentish Studies, East Kent Archives, County Central and Maidstone (St Faiths Street) libraries. They house approximately 14 kilometres of documents relating to Kent dating back to 699 AD and makes these publicly accessible.  Covering a vast range of subjects, the resources will be helpful whatever your interest.

For East Kent: Canterbury Cathedral Archives Cathedral House 11 The Precincts Canterbury, Kent CT1 2EH UK Telephone: 1227 865330 Email: [mailto:enquiries@canterbury-cathedral.org enquiries@canterbury-cathedral.org] Website
 * The Archives & Library hold a huge wealth of information in the form of manuscripts, photographs, maps and other records dating back to the late 8th century. These make up an extraordinarily rich resource. In the Archives, you can find out more about the Cathedral, its history, its buildings and its community. You can explore the history of Canterbury and the surrounding area, and you can research East Kent family history.

For Greenwich, Woolwich, Eltham, Charlton, Kidbrooke once in Kent until 1885, now in London: Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust Charlton House Charlton Road, London SE7 8RE, UK Telephone:+44 (0) 20 8856 3951 E-mail:office@rght.org.uk Website
 * Our archive resources include photographs, manuscripts, records, prints, newspapers, and books. These documents cover Royal Greenwich, the former Metropolitan Boroughs of Greenwich and Woolwich, and their predecessors (Greenwich, Woolwich, Eltham, Charlton, Kidbrooke).

For Lewisham Lee, and surrounding villages once in Kent, now in London: Lewisham Local History and Archives Centre Lewisham Library 199 201 Lewisham High Street Lewisham, London SE13 6LG UK Telephone: 020 8314 8501 Email: [mailto:local.studies@lewisham.gov.uk local.studies@lewisham.gov.uk] Website
 * We can help you to discover the history of the borough, the history of houses in the borough (when they were built, and who lived there), the history of an area within the borough, for a school project or for general interest, your family history (ancestors in Lewisham, or general information), and local information on specific topics (for example, famous people who have lived in the borough).

'''In 1998, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham left the administrative county of Kent to form the Unitary Authority of Medway.  Medway Archives Centre''' 32 Bryant Road Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 4AU UK  Telephone: 01634 332714 Email: [mailto:malsc@medway.gov.uk malsc@medway.gov.uk] Website
 * Medway Archives Centre is the place to visit for anyone researching their family history, or the history, geography and people of Medway. We cover Rochester, Strood, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, and surrounding villages and communities, including the Isle of Grain.

In 1965, the London boroughs of Bromley and Bexley were created from nine towns formerly in Kent. Bromley Historic Collections 2nd floor Central Library High Street Bromley, London BR1 1EX UK Telephone: 020 8461 7170 Email: [mailto:historic.collections@bromley.gov.uk historic.collections@bromley.gov.uk] Website Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre Central Library Townley Road Bexleyheath, London DA6 7HJ UK Telephone: 020 3045 3369 Email: [mailto:archives@bexley.gov.uk archives@bexley.gov.uk] Website Local history research enquiries including baptism and marriage certificates
 * The Bexley Local Studies and Archive Centre holds a variety of sources for local and family historians and people researching the history of a building or house. Our archives date from the 14th century and relate to every town, village and parish in Bexley.

Libraries

 * Kent County Libraries
 * Royal Borough of Greenwich Libraries

Museums
For a long list of Kent museums, go to List of museums in Kent in Wikipedia.

Maidstone Museum & Art Gallery St Faith's St Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LH UK Telephone: 1622 602838 Email: [mailto:museuminfo@maidstone.gov.uk museuminfo@maidstone.gov.uk] Website
 * Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery is a local authority-run museum located in Maidstone, Kent, England, featuring internationally important collections including fine art, natural history, and human history.

- Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery Civic Centre Mount Pleasant Rd Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1JN UK Telephone: 1892 554171 Email: [mailto:museum@tunbridgewells.gov.uk museum@tunbridgewells.gov.uk] Website
 * The history of Royal Tunbridge Wells told through art, natural history, archaeology, craft, toys and so much more. The decadence of the manor house and the spartan lifestyle of the humble hop-picker is the story of Kent's spa town.

Greenwich Heritage Centre Artillery Square Royal Arsenal Woolwich, London SE18 4DX UK Telephone: 020 8854 2452 Email: [mailto:heritage.centre@rght.org.uk heritage.centre@rght.org.uk] Website
 * Greenwich Heritage Centre is housed in the old ordnance factory and store at the historic Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. The museum tells stories about the Royal Borough through objects, paintings, prints, drawings, maps, photographs and deeds.

Civil Registration Offices
The General Register Office holds a central copy of all birth, marriage, and death registrations in England. These certificates can be ordered from their website (a login is required but it is free to register and search). However, in some cases research can be more efficient working with the smaller, more specific records collections of county/district registry offices.

Sometimes research might be required to determine where a town or parish was in a former registration district, or even its current district. For a list of the historic and current registration districts and their parishes, see UKBMD: Registration Districts in Kent.

Kent and Bexley Kent and Bexley does not include the Medway Towns (Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester and Strood) or the London Boroughs of Bromley and Greenwich. Royal Borough of Greenwich Medway
 * Apply for a copy of a birth certificate, Kent
 * Apply for a copy of a marriage certificate, Kent
 * Apply for a copy of a birth certificate, Kent
 * Apply for a copy of a certificate, Royal Borough of Greenwich
 * Order a certificate, Medway

Offices
Kent Register Office Kent History & Library Centre James Whatman Way Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LQ, UK Telephone Kent: 03000 41 51 51 Telephone Bexley: 03000 41 52 52 Email:register.office@kent.gov.uk

Royal Borough of Greenwich Register Office Births, Deaths and Marriages Woolwich Town Hall Wellington Street Woolwich SE18 6PW, UK Telephone: 020 8921 5015 Email: registrar@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Medway Register Office Northgate Rochester Kent ME1 1LS Telephone: 01634 338 899 E-mail: register.office@medway.gov.uk