Programme for 2025

Saturday 13th September

• 15 of our historic churches are open in conjunction with ‘Ride and Stride’
• Deal Cemetery Chapel – A refurbished chapel building, originally built as two chapels in 1856
• Deal Museum – Portrays the changing history of Deal, Walmer and the surrounding area, and is packed to the rafters with fascinating glimpses into the past
• Kent Mining Museum, Betteshanger Park – Visitors will be able to get a closer look at some special items from the archives
• Exhibition – The Addelam History Research Group present their latest research on Beach Street

Sunday 14th September

• Deal Museum will be open as it was on Saturday
• Talk – Wellington at Walmer: A Churchman, Statesman and Gentleman at St. Mary’s Church

Tuesday 16th September

• Old Wine Vaults – A Grade II listed building established in 1802 by the wine merchant and brewer Charles Thomas Hills
• Kent Mining Museum will be open as it was the previous weekend

Thursday 18th September

• Kent Mining Museum will be open as it was the previous weekend

Saturday 20th September

• Chitty’s Mill – The remains of Chitty’s Steam Mill are to be seen in this private garden, which is not normally open to the public
• Deal Angling Club – There will be a display about the old lifeboat station, angling and wrecks on the Goodwin Sands
• Deal Masonic Hall – A rare chance to see inside the world of Freemasonry
• Deal Museum will be open as it was the previous weekend
• Deal Timeball Tower – This iconic building is a reminder of the importance of the town to the navy in Georgian times
• Deal Town Hall – Grade II listed landmark containing stunning historic paintings and artefacts
• Exhibition – Dunkirk Plaque at the Deal Angling Club
• Exhibition – Goodwin Sands SOS at the Deal Angling Club
• Tour – A Forest of Flags – Electoral bribery and corruption was rife in the late 19th century, this walking tour will name some of the culprits involved and point out the streets and houses in which they lived
• Tour – North End Beach Street to uncover the long since gone 24 pubs, capstan grounds and the development in tourism in this part of Deal
• Tour – Sandown Castle, once a castle and now a community garden – does anything remain under the sea wall and gardens?

Sunday 21st September

• Captain’s Garden, Deal Castle – This garden was neglected for years and is now being brought back into use by Deal Hop Farms
• Deal Museum will be open as it was on Saturday
• Operating Theatre, East Barracks – What was the operating theatre of the Royal Naval Hospital at Deal is now part of a private home and not normally open to the public
• Ripple Windmill – Built in 1810 and now fully restored to working order, it has stunning views of the coast and countryside
• Tour – Deal Castle – A special tour of the castle, by a member of the English Heritage team, which will focus on its architecture, why it is there and how it was built
• Tour – Royal Marines Heritage Trail which marks the long association of the Royal Marines with the area