Artefacts from the Wrens who served in Deal to the heritage of the former Kent Coalfield – all and more can be discovered at the start of the new season at the Deal Maritime and Local History Museum.

New for this year are a series of maps of Deal High Street from 1904 to 1971 created by draughts woman Betty Turner and recently donated to the museum by her daughter.

Popular pantos, PTI and the Wrens who served at Deal are featured in the revised Royal Marines exhibition which will be on display for this season before a new and enlarged permanent exhibition is unveiled in 2018.

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Mining heritage items and an audio visual story of the Kent Coalfield are displayed in the Upper Gallery.

On the wall of the stairs leading to the gallery is a new Famous Faces exhibition.

The popular First World War trench scene, the exhibition to commemorate the Evacuation of Dunkirk and Tender Too, one of the Little Ships that helped in the evacuation during the Second world War, are all on display.

A series of newly written booklets are for sale in the museum shop for £3 each, featuring stories of Smuggling in Deal, Myths and Legends of the Goodwin Sands and other titles will follow including one on Middle Street.

There are also I Love Deal Mugs and key rings featuring the Royal Marines Drum donated to the museum last year. These and other small gifts will help raise much needed funds for the upkeep of the museum that relies on such income and volunteers.

A new website is reaching out to local history enthusiasts locally and across the world, with a facility to submit stories and memories and purchase tickets for events at the museum.

These will include a talk by maritime author Steve R Dunn on his new book on the Dover Patrol on Thursday, April 20. There will be a fundraising quiz at The Alma on Friday, May 19.

Deal Maritime and Local History Museum is at 22 St George’s Road, Deal, CT14 6BA, and is open now until Tuesday, October 31.

New volunteers who could spare a couple of hours a week are invited to get in touch. Email museum@dealmuseum.co.uk