Take Part
‘Making Maidstone’ is a three-year project to develop a book which will explore the history of Maidstone from 1549 to 1660. As such, the book will cover the incorporation of the town under Edward VI in 1549 to the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. This encompasses shifts in town governance, Wyatt’s Rebellion against the crown, the impact of the Reformation upon the town, tensions associated with migration, the Battle of Maidstone in 1648, and the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
Primarily, this book will be the product of work carried out by volunteers who will uncover new records and stories about this formative period of Maidstone’s history. You will learn about how modern Maidstone came to be while also gaining new skills to help you in your own research projects whether that is at university, in your career, or just for fun.
Why Volunteer?
- Rare opportunity to contribute towards a live research project.
- Gain experience in archival work, transcription, data science, or digital humanities.
- Be part of a community of like-minded history enthusiasts.
- Flexible commitment—help as much or as little as you want.
What you can do
- Research online or in the archives.
- Transcribe historical documents.
- Turn you research into a blog post, video, or section of the book.
- Use digital technologies to research and reimagine how Maidstone looked and felt in the 16th and 17th centuries.
- Utilise machine learning in historical research.
- Develop digital resources.
Who can Join?
- No prior experience necessary—training will be provided.
- Ideal for students, researchers, and history enthusiasts.
- Anyone with an interest in the history of 16th and 17th century Maidstone.
How to get involved
- If you think you might be interested in this project, in however small a way, then please email us.
- We are particularly looking for images of historic Maidstone to use on the website. So if you have any you are happy for us to use then please get in touch.
Volunteer with Us: Help Uncover the Lives of Early Modern Kent
We’re looking for volunteers to help transcribe and explore the content of early modern wills from Maidstone and across Kent. These fascinating documents, written between the 16th and 18th centuries, offer a unique window into everyday life — from family relationships and occupations to property and wealth.
No prior experience with old handwriting is needed — just an interest in history and a willingness to learn. We’ll provide training and support.
For more information please see our Wills page.