Library image – Maison Dieu – Image SCOPIX
The magnificent Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall) has stormed the shortlist for not one, but TWO hugely respected awards: the 2026 Civic Trust Award and the Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC) Conservation Award! Following a gruelling first-stage assessment, this historic treasure has proven its world-class restoration quality.
The Maison Dieu is one of a select few—just six South East finalists among 77 nationwide—for the Civic Trust Award! This accolade celebrates projects that don’t just look great, but are sustainable, accessible, and deliver a massive positive civic contribution that truly enhances the built environment. But wait, there’s more! It has also clinched one of only three spots as a South East finalist for the AABC Conservation Awards. These awards are the gold standard, established to celebrate only the projects demonstrating the absolute highest standards of historic building conservation!
Now, the pressure is on! All regional finalists are heading to the National Judging Panel—a powerhouse of 22 experts in everything from architecture to sustainability and conservation. These judges set an exacting standard to uphold the 65-year legacy of excellence embodied by the Civic Trust Awards!
Town residents will be on the edge of their seats until January 2026, when the Maison Dieu discovers if it has been crowned a National or International Winner, or remains a tough-to-beat Regional Finalist!
Cllr Lynne Wright, Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property, shared the excitement:
“I’m absolutely thrilled! This shortlisting is a thunderous testament to the exceptional quality of the Maison Dieu restoration. It proves that combining careful, expert conservation with innovative modern reuse is the winning formula to secure the future of Dover’s most important historic building while keeping it buzzing with community life!”
The £10.5 Million Transformation: A Glimpse of Glory!
The incredible £10.5 million “reawakening” of the Grade I Listed Maison Dieu included the breathtaking restoration of decorative schemes by the legendary Victorian neo-Gothic architect William Burges, plus a sleek, new street-level visitor entrance to the Connaught Hall, and vastly improved access throughout the entire structure.