Letter from the Membership Secretary
As a past member, you will be aware that the annual subscription entitles members to free access to the Minster Abbey Gatehouse Museum and free entry to the monthly meetings of the Sheppey Local History Society. Nothing has changed.
Renewing your membership of the Sheppey Local History Society your subscription will not only keep the Society going but will also go towards keeping the Minster Abbey Gatehouse and its history alive for the future.
Anyone wishing to renew their membership can either send a cheque for £10 made out to the Sheppey Local History Society to: Tony Pointing, Membership Secretary, 5 St Mary’s Row, Scrapsgate Road, Minster, Sheerness, Kent ME12 2BL or visit the Museum and speak to one of our volunteers. They will be happy to help you.
Thank you
Regards
Tony Pointing
Membership Secretary
Sheppey Local History Society
Sheppey Local History Society and the Minster Gatehouse Museum
The Sheppey Local History Society took over the management and day-to-day running of the Minster Gatehouse Museum in 1981.
It is run by a dedicated team of volunteers who offer their time and resources to maintain the building, the grounds and its displays, and who work hard to preserve the Isle of Sheppey’s local history and heritage for the enjoyment of all.
In addition to hosting regular festive community events the Society also offers individually tailored experiences for those who wish to organize a private gathering within unique historical surroundings.
Sheppey Local History Society Commitment
The past year has shown the number of visitors increase by 30%, and the Society now has charitable status to enable the widening of its activities, and to support its commitment to:
- Advance Education
- Advance Citizenship and Community Development
- Advance the Arts, Culture, Heritage and Science.
- Joining the Sheppey Local History Society
Membership is currently £10.00 per annum, and includes unlimited access to the Minster Gatehouse Museum as well as free entry to our events and talks throughout the year.
Funding
A peppercorn rent is paid to the local council for use of the building, and all other funding comes from a combination of donations, entrance fees, special events revenue, gift shop sales and grants.
Becoming Involved
If you would like to volunteer your time or resources please contact us using the contact details at the bottom of this page. Help of any kind is always welcome, and the more people involved the greater the scope of our activities can be. Volunteers must be current members of the Sheppey Local History Society.
Email minstergatehouse@gmail.com
Meeting Venue / Time
Unless indicated otherwise meetings take place at the Minster Working Men’s Club, adjacent to the Gatehouse Museum, on Union Road, Minster, Isle of Sheppey, Kent. There is plenty of parking spaces available, and refreshments can be purchased at the bar.
All meetings are scheduled to start at 7.30pm, please arrive from 7.15pm (unless listed otherwise)
Programme of Sheppey Local History Society meetings for 2023/2024
November 28th 2023: History of Sheerness Times and Guardian, and Journalism, by John Nurden
Dec 19th 2023: Christmas Social Evening with The Big Fish Band
2024
January 30th: The history of ships in WW1 by Jeremy Thornton
February 27th: The history of trams on Sheppey by Martin Hawkins
March 26th: Dead Man’s Island by Daf Charman
April 30th: The history of the Isle of Sheppey St John Ambulance Band by Ben Pointing
May 28th: The history of the Red Sands Forts, by Margaret McEwan
June 25th: The history of Shellness, by Skip, resident of Shellness
July 30th: Visit to Glen Haven, private nature reserve of John Standford, details to be confirmed
August: BUS TRIP TO BE ARRANGED
September 24th: Sheppey Fossils and Evolution by Fred Clouter
October 29th: AGM
All are welcome to attend our meetings; entry is free to members of Sheppey Local History Society on presentation of their membership cards, and only £2 to non-members. There is also a raffle with all proceeds going to Sheppey Local History Society to enable us to keep providing events and run the Gatehouse Museum.