Commissioner’s House Restoration Project

A restoration in progress

Bringing the Commissioner’s House back to life

From its Georgian origins to a renewed future, Commissioner’s House has been restored, its history celebrated, and its doors reopened to welcome generations of visitors, events and moments to come.

Built in 1704 for Captain George St Lo, Commissioner’s House has stood at the heart of the Dockyard for more than three centuries as a place of leadership, legacy and lived-in history. As the official residence of the Dockyard Commissioner, it oversaw the construction of legendary ships including HMS VICTORY and served as a strategic hub through times of peace, conflict and global change.

Inside, remarkable historic details survive. Among them is the celebrated ceiling painting Mars Crowning Neptune, attributed to Highmore and Thornhill. This dramatic assembly of the gods was originally created for HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN and is now one of the Dockyard’s most significant artistic treasures.

Thank you to the generous support from a number of Trusts and Foundations, including Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), administered by Arts Council England; the Garfield Weston Foundation; The National Lottery Heritage Fund; and The Wolfson Foundation.

Phase 1: Repair and protect

Securing the foundations for the future

Phase 1 wass centred on care, craft and conservation.

Critical structural repairs were carried out to stabilise the building and safeguard its historic fabric. Specialist conservation work protected interior features, including the iconic Mars Crowning Neptune ceiling painting, ensuring it can be enjoyed long into the future.

Alongside this, remedial works improved conditions for the exhibits and collections housed within the building. Sustainability measures were also introduced to reduce the house’s operational carbon footprint and support a more resilient future.

This essential behind-the-scenes work helped lay the groundwork for everything that came next.

Phase 2: renewed purpose

Opening the doors

Phase 2 saw Commissioner’s House open to the public for the first time.

Carefully adapted for reuse, the house is now both a museum and a distinctive hospitality venue, offering new ways to experience its history. Accessibility improvements have helped ensure more people can explore the building, while enhanced interpretation will bring its stories, and Medway’s wider maritime legacy, vividly to life.

A programme of events and activities will reconnect the house with its long tradition of weddings, celebrations and stories yet to be told.