Many people travelling into Dover must wonder how 'Maison Dieu Road', ever got it's name as it is French. Could it probably
be because of our closeness to France?
Well, apparently not, 'The Maison Dieu' is the official name of Dover's Town Hall, as it has not always had that function.
'Maison Dieu' means 'House of God' in French and the building was built by Hubert De Burgh (*De Burgh Street and De Burgh
Hill are named after him), a constable of Dover Castle in 1203 as a hospice to heal the locals and travellers.
Hubert of course is famed as the constable who withstood a French invasion of the castle in 1216 and fought them off,
luckily, and the castle was later upgraded with more military power.
The Maison Dieu was later used as a headquarters for the army, the cellars being the town gaol and the official council
headquarters for the town. The site has also housed a town museum, college (at the rear, now apartments) and the victualiers
residence at Maison Dieu House, next door now a office for the Dover Town Council.
Various functions happened inside the town hall in its time and the site is now run by Thanet Leisure Force on behalf
of the district council offering speech days, Dover Film Festival, conferences, dances and gigs to add to the vibrant community
of the town.
