History
The thriving and busy Community Support Centre, formerly known as the Howard de Walden institute for women, so called after its benefactor the Dowager Lady Howard de Walden, was built in Marsham Street, Maidstone during 1891. In those early years, the institute provided classes in cookery, dress making, nursing, drawing, singing, French and bible studies. During the 1897 typhoid epidemic, many of the nurses who came to Maidstone from London hospitals to tend the sick were accommodated at the institute. The building went on to be a Voluntary Aid Attachment (V.A.D.) hospital during the First World War and subsequently was purchased as a Nurses' Home by the then West Kent Hospital. During the Second World War, the first bombs to hit Maidstone fell on the site, killing two people. The damaged part of the building was demolished and today it is the Centre's main car park. During the early 1980’s, Maidstone Hospital moved to a new site at Hermitage Lane and the former nurses home closed. Through the foresight of a small group of people, the building was purchased on behalf of community, voluntary and charitable organisations. Those involved included the Community Centre’s President Don Brand, who at that time worked for Kent Social Services based in Maidstone plus leaders of a few key local charities. Close and collaborative work between the voluntary and statutory sector ensured that the building, which had fallen in to a state of disrepair, was fit for use culminating in the official opening by the then Lord Lieutenant of Kent Robin Leigh-Pemberton in December 1988. Over the following years, the Centre grew to full office occupancy serving the community across rural and urban Maidstone and well beyond. During 1996 following a Lottery award, substantial work was undertaken to the roof and fabric of the building including the removal of many years worth of grime thus restoring the building to its former glory. A continuing programme of rolling repairs and improvements both internally and externally have made the Centre a popular venue for charitable and community groups to hold meetings and courses. The Centre is currently home to around 30 charitable groups occupying 75 offices over three floors. Some of our member groups are part of national organisations while others are more regional and local. A whole range of voluntary and community work takes place in the Centre making it a valuable asset to Maidstone. The hiring out of our meeting, training and conference facilities to both internal and external groups pushes our annual footfall up to 30,000 per annum.
