The Archbishop’s Palace Conservation Trust and the Otford Heritage Centre are delighted to announce that, after lengthy discussions, the two organisations have agreed to merge.
The name of the Trust will be unchanged. The objects in the care of the Otford Heritage Centre will be known as the Otford Heritage Collection and will be managed by a museum committee reporting to the APCT Trustees. Considerable progress has already been made in our application for accredited museum status. The intention is that the Collection will move into the North West Tower of the Palace when the conservation work is completed.
In the meanwhile, we are working to make the Collection available online and on our educational outreach programme – Darent History Takeaway.
Nick Fothergill, a Trustee of both the Archbishop’s Palace Conservation Trust and of the Otford Heritage Centre, said: “The Otford Heritage Centre was established over 21 years ago. The two organisations have mutual interests which in part overlapped. The merger makes perfect sense, consolidating our expertise and experience into one, stronger, heritage-focussed organisation.”