The Council has recently carried out maintenance work to the outside of Church House, home of the Eden Valley Museum. The work included repointing and other treatment recommended in a recent damp survey. These improvements will help protect the building’s structure and keep it in good condition for the long term.
Church House is owned and maintained by the Council and leased to the Eden Valley Museum. This arrangement supports the museum’s work while ensuring the building remains properly maintained and available for public benefit.
Church House is one of Edenbridge’s architectural landmarks and among the three oldest buildings in the town, dating from around 1384. Originally known as Doggetts Farm House, it began life as a two-bay hall house with a cross wing. A farmer, his family, and their labourers would once have lived and worked here.
Over the centuries the building has changed. Major alterations were made in the mid-16th century, and in the 18th century a brick façade was added. Two bricked-up windows from the days of the window tax can still be spotted from the outside. Behind the later frontage, the medieval timber frame survives, and visitors can see parts of it inside the museum.
The name Church House dates from 1913, when Miss Geraldine Rickards purchased the property. She also built the community room now known as Rickards Hall. During the First World War, the new building was quickly brought into use as a hospital for Belgian soldiers.
Today, the Grade II* listed Church House forms part of the Eden Valley Museum, which opened in 2000. The museum is free to visit and offers permanent and changing displays on the history of Edenbridge and the surrounding area, with a mix of objects, stories, and interactive features.
We’re pleased to continue safeguarding this important piece of local heritage, and we encourage residents to visit the museum and explore one of the town’s oldest buildings.