News The “Maid on the Stone” Seal set for display in reimagined Museum gallery
Maidstone Museum is getting ready to unveil its reinvented Local History Gallery, which will bring new objects into the spotlight this summer.
Following the success of the redeveloped ‘Lives In Our Landscape’ gallery in 2024, the Museum Team turned their attention to the continuing story of Maidstone, supported by feedback from visitors and a generous donation from The William & Edith Oldham Charitable Trust.
The gallery will be renamed ‘The Oldham Gallery: Exploring Maidstone’s Past and Present’, in honour of Mr. Paul Oldham, a champion of the museum and an influential Maidstone figure for his political and charitable work.
Picking up where ‘Lives In Our Landscape’ finishes at the Tudor period, the Oldham Gallery takes visitors on a journey through the County Town’s history, right up to the present-day.
The space will display 30% more objects, many of which have never been on public display. Icons of the Local History Gallery will also be included, with fresh interpretation and recontextualisation, including a mysterious seal that depicts a woman standing on a rock.
Used to impress wax on official documents and dated from 1567, 18 years after Maidstone achieved Town Charter status in 1549, could this seal with a “Maid” on the “Stone” provide the answer to the origin of the town’s name?
Identified as a key object in this collection, the seal has recently undergone testing and research with the Kent Archaeological Society and the University of Exeter to discover that it is made of silver with a high copper content, giving the Museum’s Collections Team the insight to best conserve and display the seal in the Oldham Gallery.
Commenting on the gallery reinterpretation, Cllr Stephen Thompson, Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) Cabinet Member for Healthier Stronger Communities, said:
After the success of ‘Lives In Our Landscape’, it became clear to us at the Museum, the Council and to residents that the full story of Maidstone needed to be told in a space set for the 21st century. The “Maid on the Stone” seal is one of the many objects integral to this story, and I am so pleased to see that it is receiving a particular focus in the Oldham Gallery. Many more strands of the history of Maidstone are being included, and if you’ve never been to our museum before, this summer will be the perfect time to make a visit.
Maidstone Museum is owned and managed by MBC and the Museum has led a series of focus groups to help build this gallery with Maidstone visitors at the forefront of its plans.
The space will emphasise Maidstone’s significance in Kent, covering its industries such as brewing and papermaking, as well as its rebellious streak throughout history. The gallery will feature hands-on activities and interactive exhibits, such as ‘Guess the Local Symbol’, along with a digital archive showcasing photos through the ages and collaborations with local artists to bring the space to life.
Local groups have also been engaged throughout the process, and a ‘Community Cabinet’ will be introduced, featuring temporary exhibits to showcase the diverse populations in Maidstone. The first focus will be on the borough’s Polish community. This regular rotation of displays will ensure that there will be something new to see with each visit to the Museum.
There is still time to get involved in the creation of the Oldham Gallery, as a competition is being held to find Maidstone’s Oldest Family. Residents whose families have roots in the borough are encouraged to submit their research and evidence, and the prize for Maidstone’s Oldest Family will include an invitation to the launch of the Oldham Gallery and a commemoration to permanently display in the space. More information can be found on the Museum website. This competition will close on 1 July.
‘The Oldham Gallery: Exploring Maidstone’s Past and Present’ will open on Saturday 19 July 2025 and, like Maidstone Museum, it will be free for everyone to visit and enjoy.