A History of the Museum and Building

Ashford Borough Museum Society was founded in 1989. The Museum is governed by a constitution and is a registered charity (No.298060). The trustees act as the Museum Management body but the day-to-day running of the Museum is entrusted the the Museum Society Committee.

The Museum is housed in the building which was originally designed and built by Sir Norton Knatchbull in 1635 for the newly formed Ashford Grammar School. It has been restored but many of the original features both outside and inside remain.

The building itself is historic, and is one of the best examples of a 17th century schoolhouse in the UK. It was designed and built in 1635 by Sir Norton Knatchbull to house Ashford Grammar School. The building still has original graffiti on the wainscoting from the children who attended the school, and niches where their books were placed. The Headmaster's and Usher's seats can also be seen at the museum. More can be found about the Museum's history in Helping the Museum.

At the bottom of the page,  a picture shows the original building in its former glory situated in the churchyard with schoolboys playing outside. The requirements of  new pupils were to be able to read and write whereby maintaining the exclusivity of the school. The Grammar School  reached its peak of popularity in the late 1700's due to its good reputation; the school was extended as a result.

However, this did not last - the school eventually closed in 1870/1 possibly due to a poor number of students. The buildings and the lands belonging to the school were sold and the money was used to provide a new grammar school in Hythe Road, Ashford.

The building then became known as Dr Wilk's Memorial Hall. It is owned by Ashford Borough Council but is leased to the Museum Society free of charge. 

Headmasters of Ashford Grammar School

• 1635 - Baptist Piggott M.A.

• 1657 - Simon How M.A.

• 1673 - Strangford Viall M.A.

• 1679 - John Drake M.A.

• 1712 - Richard Bate M.A.

• 1749 - Stephen Barrett M.A.

• 1764/6 - William Hodson M.A.

• 1773 - Charles Stoddart M.A.

• 1812 - John Nance M.A. & D.D.

• 1832 - Ephraim Hemmings Snoad M.A.

• 1856 - Robert Henry Wright M.A.

• 1867 - Francis Avarne Dewe M.A.