Bluewater Shopping Centre Mick Jagger Centre Dartford Crossing Kent UK

Dartford Museums & Swanscombe Skull Site Dartford

Dartford's main borough museum housed within the library on Market Street might be one of Kent's smallest museums, but it packs a punch as a local history museum. Extensive renovations took place in 2005, and in 2008 Dartford Museum celebrates its centenary with a special exhibit looking at the development of the museum since 1908.

Historical collections held at the Dartford Museum cover the full spectrum of the town's history from the medieval period to 1960. Other exhibits include fossils found in the nearby Dartford Chalk Pits whilst on the archaeological front you'll see some important finds from the Palaeolithic period found at the nearby Swanscombe site. Iron and Bronze Age plus Roman artefacts are also on display. Dartford at various points has been rather an important centre, for example during the Tudor period when the town was centred around the Manor Gatehouse which by 1545 played host to the Privy Council and was one of the most important political venues in Tudor England. Built by Henry VIII between 1541 amd 1544. The Manor Gatehouse was later given to Anne of Cleves by Henry as part of the divorce settlement. She lived there between 1553 and 1557. All that remains today of the Manor is the Gatehouse (situated on Priory Road). Viewing is highly recommended.

Another important historical site in the Dartford area is the Swanscombe area just east of the town. It was here that a 400,000 year old skull was found, the oldest piece of human remains found in all Europe. Numerous other pre-historic tools have also been found in the area and these tools are on display in Dartford's museum! Find the Swanscombe site adjacent to the Swanscombe Leisure Centre in Craylands Lane, Swanscombe. Access is via the Leisure Centre's car park and the site where the skull pieces were found is marked by a commemorative stone. Within the leisure centre you'll find a small display on this special site.

Dartford Borough Museum, Market Street Dartford Kent DA1 1EU. Tel. 01322 224739. Well worth browsing is the new Dartford History Archive website (link right). Here you'll discover a fascinating introduction to the history of Dartford, highlighting facts such as the first papermill located here in Dartford around 1588 by John Spilman (Spielman), the German businessman who courted favour with both Elizabeth I and James I (and resultant monopoly of the paper business) as 'Goldsmyth of our Jewelles. His tomb is in Dartford's central Holy Trinity Church. Find out more about the industrial John Hall and Richard Trevithick, who spent time here in Dartford, on the Dartford Archive weblink. Trevithick, inventor of the first locomotive, although heralding from Cornwall actually died here in Dartford. A Trevithick commemorative plaque can be seen at Holy Trinity church.

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Bluewater Shopping Centre near Dartford

Bluewater opened its doors in 1999 and from the onset this retail come leisure entertainment mecca was a resounding success. Bluewater isn't just Europe's largest retail outlet, it s a combined leisure complex as well with acres of parkland and lakes on-site. Easily reached off the M25 at Junction 2 (A2/M2), just follow the signs for Bluewater, this mecca shopping centre is now also accessible for visitors from Europe with new Ebbsfleet Eurostar high speed railway station close by. Bluewater shopping complex sits at Greenhithe, mid-way between Dartford and Gravesend on the A2 London to Cantebury Road right near the Bean Interchange just a mile from the M25 at Junction 2.

The internal design of Bluewater caters well for different markets. Three main sections offer different thematic areas - Guildhall is chic high fashion and gourmet restaurants and cafes, Thames Walk is more high street fashion and cafe oriented whilst the Rose Gallery has a firm family focus with well known high street retail names.

A specialist service for the hire of wheelchairs and scooters is situated on Thames Walk, Tel. UK Mobility, Bluewater at 01322 427427. Check Bluewater's webguide for A to Z store listings. You've over 300 stores situated here, plus find the Bluewater cinema, a luxury multiplex Showcase cinema with Planet Smarties Birthday room, on the Thames Walk. Checkout the Bluewater Cinema Showcase programme via the webguide right.

Bluewater Shopping Centre, Upper Rose Gallery, Bluewater, Greenhithe Kent DA9 9ST. Tel. 0870 777 0252. Bluewater Opening Times are Monday to Friday 10.00am to 9.00pm, Saturday 9.00am to 9.00pm and Sunday 11.00am to 5.00pm.

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Mick Jagger Centre Dartford

Just on the outskirts of Dartford town centre adjacent to Dartford Grammer School sits Dartford's relatively new Live Music Performance Venue, the Mick Jagger Centre. Closely linked to the grammer school, and beginning as a community project with patronage by Jagger, the Mick Jagger Centre has expanded since the mid 1990s incorporating a wider area beyond Dartford and North Kent.

The centre offers an impressive line up of live music acts from the likes of Ruby Turner to the Dartford Symphony orchestra, to wrestling shows, soul and jazz extravaganzas and dance performance.

Mick Jagger Centre Dartford, Shepherds Lane, Dartford, Kent DA1 2JZ. Box Office Tel. 01322 291100, General Enquiries.01322 291101.

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Dartford Entertainment Theatre

Dartford's Orchard Theatre, which seats 920, is the town's largest arts theatre venue. An eclectic mix of entertainment is on offer here at the Orchard, including big name live music acts alongside comedy, musical variety, classical music opera and kids shows. The Orchard offers a particularly good comedy programme, and often has celebrated comedy acts from the Edinburgh Festival.

Two other Dartford theatre and arts centres include the smaller Miskin Theatre on the North West Kent College campus (see their webguide for directions and innovative theatre programme). Also Acacia Hall on Dartford's High Street is a superb venue for jazz as well as a number of quality ever popular tribute bands. Acacia Hall plays host as a major venue during Dartford's annual festival and boasts extensive conference and wedding facilities.

The Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford Kent DA1 1ED. Box Office Tel. 01322 220000. Box Office open Monday to Saturday from 10am - 6pm or until 15 minutes after the start of the evening performance.

Miskin Theatre, North West Kent College, Oakfield Lane, Dartford, DA1 2JT. Tel: 01322 629422. See also Acacia Hall, High Street, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1DJ. Tel Box Office. 01322 343470.

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