Dover Town Council

Maison Dieu House

The Dover Town Council is located in Maison Dieu House which was built in 1665 and is possibly the oldest domestic building in the town.

It was converted into a Navy Victualling Office, to serve as a residence for the Agent Victualler. It continued to be used for this purpose until after the Battle of Waterloo (1815). Subsequently it was used by the Ordnance Department as a residence for the officer commanding the Royal Engineers at Dover until 1834.

After this it was sold as a private residence. Mr R. W. Mummery, who was three times Mayor of Dover, lived there and died there in 1869. In 1855 the famous mountaineer Albert Mummery was born in the house.

In 1904 Maison Dieu House was purchased by Dover Corporation and used as the offices of the Borough Engineer and Electricity Department. In the 1920s the town's War Memorial was erected on the lawn in front of the house.

After being damaged during Second World War the building was converted for use as a public library. The Library opened in Maison Dieu House in 1952, moving from the Biggin Hall where it had been housed after it's original premises were destroyed during the war.

As well the fine red brick façade many original features can be seen inside the present library. There is the magnificent Jacobean staircase, together with exposed ceiling beams and in some rooms original wall panelling has been retained.

This beautiful building was home to Dover's excellent library until June 2003 when it closed prior to its move to the Dover Discovery Centre. During early 2004 the building was converted into offices for Dover Town Council, who moved into their new home in late summer 2004.