It has been described as a ‘carbuncle’ a ‘sweet tin’ and ‘revolutionary,’ now the public will get to see inside the revamped Maidstone Museum.

The first phase of the museum’s new £3.7 million east wing will open to visitors on Monday. Areas on show will include the reception area housing the new Visitor Information Service, the gift shop, and staff will shortly begin stocking the galleries with new exhibits.

There is also a new lift to provide access to first floor galleries and toilets for wheelchair users and museum staff say more areas will be opened up for public scrutiny in the next few weeks.

The new wing, first revealed in 2007, has been paid for with a £2 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, plus money raised through private donations. It has divided opinion in Maidstone, with some applauding the gold extension, others saying it is too modern for the rest of the Tudor building.

In November, an exhibition called ‘All Change..? Maidstone’s Past and Present in Photographs’ will open using historic images from the museum’s collection, compared with photographs of the same view. It is in conjunction with Maidstone Camera Club.