Come along any day between Thursday 29th and Saturday 31st October and find as many ghosts and witches as you can around Sandwich! Collect your trail sheet from Sandwich Guildhall Museum, then join us for a spooky, museum-themed activity exploring our collections and historic courtroom(10am – 4pm).
Previous Events
800 Years of Mayors in Sandwich: A Community Celebration
May – July 2026
Celebrating eight centuries of mayoral history, this exhibition brought together historic photographs, archival material and community artworks. Highlights included over 100 pieces of Sandwich crested china from the Roy Simmons Collection and photographs of the spectacular 1926 Sandwich Pageant, for which the young Cecil Beaton designed a costume for his sister Baba. The exhibition also featured portraits by Sandwich Junior School pupils, embroidered artwork by Sandwich Technology School and a colourful blanket of 800 knitted squares coordinated by Age Concern Sandwich.
Portraits of Sandwich Mayors Through the Ages
May and September – mid-October 2026
A special exhibition of historic portraits of Sandwich mayors, displayed in the Guildhall Gallery as part of the town’s 800th anniversary celebrations. First shown in May and returning for Heritage Open Days in September until mid-October, the exhibition brought together portraits of mayors from different periods, offering a fascinating glimpse of the people who held this important civic office over the centuries.
Sandwich: Speaker for the Cinque Ports
An exhibition about the history of the Cinque Ports and the role of the Speaker. In the museum’s temporary exhibition space at the back of the 16th century courtroom. Open 2nd October 2024 to 17th November 2024.
Please note: due to events, this space will be unavailable on: 12th October, 12:30 to 15:00 and 19th October 13:30 to 16:00.
The Legend of William ‘Wing’ Farley: An immersive, promenade theatre piece
Sandwich Guildhall Museum and Sir Roger Manwood’s School presents this immersive, promenade theatre performance. Travel through the Guildhall with the characters as they share a part fact, part fiction, story based on our famous courtroom painting of William Farley’s trial. On 15th October 2024, at three performance times: 18.45, 19.30 and 20.15.
Free admission, donations welcome.
To attend, RSVP by emailing musuem@sandwichtowncouncil.gov.uk. Don’t forget to let us know which performance you would like to attend.
Roman Bowl Art Exhibition
Sandwich Guildhall Museum’s first annual art exhibition! See artwork inspired by our recent acquisition: the Roman Bowl. Open 4th September 2024 to 29th September 2024.
D-Day 80
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, we are holding a temporary exhibition exploring what life was like in Sandwich during the Second World War, how a great engineering accomplishment helped the Allies to be successful on D-Day, as well as remembering those who made sacrifices for their country. The exhibition is on display from 5th June 2024 to 31st July 2024.
Please note: there will be reduced opening times on some days due to private bookings:
Saturday 8th June, 13:00 to 15:30
Saturday 15th June, 14:00 – 16:00
Saturday 29th June, 14:00 – 15:30
Richard III in Sandwich
540 years ago Richard III visited Sandwich to inspect preparations for defending the country. Prior to his visit in 1483, he sent a letter to John Crawford, the Mayor of Sandwich. We are delighted to be displaying his letter to mark this anniversary. It will be on display in the museum from Saturday 6th January 2024 to Thursday 25th January 2024.
Leave to Land: The Kitchener Camp Rescue 1939
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day this year, we are proud to be hosting a travelling exhibition, curated by Dr Clare Weissenberg, Curator of Exhibitions, from The Wiener Holocaust Library. The display will be in our 16th Century Courtroom from Wednesday 17th January 2024 to Sunday 28th January 2024. The exhibition will then travel on to Deal Library, Ramsgate Library, Canterbury Cathedral and Ramsgate Tunnels.
Sandwich to Swansea: An Evacuation in 1940
After the outbreak of World War Two, many children were evacuated to safer areas of the country. This display shares, through letters, the story of June Cameron, a ten year old who was evacuated from Sandwich in 1940. It will be on display in our 16th Century Courtroom from 8th November 2023 to 3rd December 2023.
Sandwich’s Twin: A Relationship with Ronse
On 27th October members of the town of Ronse will be visiting Sandwich for the installation of Peace Monument, making Sandwich the first town in the UK to receive one. To coincide with this event, the museum will have a temporary display with items received from the town during the twinning with Ronse. The display will be in our 16th Century Courtroom from 18th October 2023 to 5th November 2023.
40Years of Sandwich and Sonsbeck
Next year is the 40th Anniversary of the Sonsbeck Twinning Association. To celebrate, the museum will have a small temporary display in the courtroom between 27th September 2023 and 15th October 2023. Visit us to learn how twinning started and see some new items from our collection!
William Boyer, Town Photographer
William Boyer set up Sandwich’s first photographic studio. At Sandwich Guildhall Museum we have an extensive collection of Boyer’s photographs, depicting the town during the 1890s. Visit us from Wednesday 16th November until Sunday December 11th 2022 to view a selection of these wonderful photographs.
Behind the Wire: A Prisoner of War in Nazi Germany, John Horton – Book signing
Join us on Wednesday 2nd November 2022, 2pm – 4pm and meet John Horton, who has collated the letters between his mother and his father, who was a prisoner of war during the Second World War. John will be at the museum signing copies of his book.
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