Local people have been asked to share which stories they’d like to see included in Ramsgate’s Clock House Museum, which is being redeveloped with funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Previously known as Ramsgate Maritime Museum, the venue has been closed since 2021 for a major renovation. It was formerly run by the Steam Museum Trust before being handed over to Thanet District Council in 2023.
The council says it aims to “find fresh, exciting ways to tell Ramsgate’s unique stories” and bring the town’s maritime history to life using creative displays and interactive storytelling.
Two drop-in events are being held to give the public an opportunity to see how the inside of the museum might look and the themes being considered for the exhibits.
The first took place on 18 February and the second is planned for Friday 27 February.
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Kristian Bright, the cabinet member for tourism and culture, said: “The Clock House is an iconic part of Ramsgate’s heritage, and we want to ensure its future reflects the vibrant history and identity of our community. Personally, I am excited to see how we can bring the museum’s artefacts to life in a way that resonates with everyone, from lifelong residents to new visitors.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for local people to engage with the project at an early stage of the development of the internal space. This is a chance to tell us what stories you want to hear, and how you would like those stories to be shown. This information will help shape how the museum’s exhibition space develops.”
The council has commissioned consultants Haley Sharpe to produce a plan for how the museum will tell Ramsgate’s stories.
The museum’s artefacts are currently in safe storage.
Opened in 1810, the Grade II* listed Clock House originally functioned as the watchhouse and pier clock for Ramsgate Royal Harbour.
It features a number of navigational aids, include a solar observatory and a clockroom, and is the site of the Ramsgate Meridian, a solar transit line from which the town’s own mean time – 5 minutes, 41 seconds ahead of Greenwich – was once calculated.
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The UK Government is providing more than £22m to fund Ramsgate regeneration projects, including the renovation of the Clock House.
The money combines three previous funds, the Future High Streets Fund, Town Deal, and Levelling Up Fund.
The project will restore the building, create modern exhibition spaces, demolish and remove existing containers next to the Clock House, and build a new cafe extension.
Building work for the restoration and extension officially started in August 2025 and is being led by Willmott Dixon Construction.
