The Evolution of Faversham as a Town and Port
* = approximate date.
-40*
Belgic farmstead established on CREEK/COOKSDITCH promontory (disused by 60*)
43
Roman conquest of Britain begins: building of Watling Street starts soon afterwards. Roman settlement along- side Watling Street soon begins at OSPRINGE.
Small town of DUROLEVUM (stronghold by the clear stream) established nearby.
85*
Small villa built near Belgic farmstead (doubled in size 125*, extended 175*)
225*
Villa downgraded (fell into disuse 275*)
290*
SS Crispin and Crispianus resident in FAVERSHAM during reign of Carausius.
340*
Mausoleum built at STONE (enlarged to become church 605*, abandoned 1540*)
410
Britain responsible for own defence.
449
Hengest and Horsa arrive to help defend Britain against Picts.
455
Hengest founds Kingdom of Kent.
699
Wihtred, King of Kent, charter of CILLING (?=Faversham) - monastic privileges.
811
Name of FEFRESHAM first recorded in Royal Charter calling it "the king’s town".
835
Danish raids start.
839
Athelstan, King of Kent, at FAVERSHAM.
930
Athelstan, King of ‘England’ holds witenagemot at FAVERSHAM.
940*
? Viking/Saxon boat abandoned at GRAVENEY (2000 still being treated at Portsmouth)
944*
Danegeld payments start.
1016
Cnut King of England.
1042
Edward the Confessor King of England (Norman dawn).
1051*
Confederation of Cinque Ports formed (FAVERSHAM founder member, cf 1252 Charter)
1066
Norman Conquest.
1070
FAVERSHAM CHURCH granted to St Augustine’s Abbey by William I.
1135
Stephen, son of sister of Henry I, King of England.
1147
FAVERSHAM ABBEY founded by King Stephen, granted Manor of FAVERSHAM.
1151
Queen Matilda buried in FAVERSHAM ABBEY.
1153
Davington Priory founded by Fulk of Newnham.
1154
King Stephen dies, buried in FAVERSHAM ABBEY.
1189*
OYSTER FISHERY COMPANY founded (traditionally).
1234
MAISON DIEU,OSPRINGE founded as Royal Lodge etc.
1252
First extant charter confirms privileges of BOROUGH as in time of Edward the Confessor.
1261
Second BOROUGH Charter, oldest to mention Cinque Ports (FAVERSHAM limb of Dover).
1301
ABBEY/BOROUGH dispute; Abbot imprisoned by Lord Warden. Lord Warden excommunicated by Archbishop; King Edward I accuses Archbishop of contempt.
1301
St Augustine’s/BOROUGH dispute: St Augustine’s sack Vicar, monks seize body he is burying at PRESTON; Mayor and TOWNSPEOPLE set fire to CHURCH, wound monks.
1388
Lord Warden/BOROUGH dispute: resolved in BOROUGH’s favour in 1446.
1408
5th BOROUGH charter confirmed that King’s officials had no right of entry.
1475*
Common warehouse (now TS HAZARD) built.
1523
(and earlier) BOROUGH nominates one of Dover’s two MPs.
1527
GRAMMAR SCHOOL founded.
1533
Henry Hatch leaves fortune for maintenance of CREEK etc.: will disputed, resolved 1574.
1538
Abbey dissolved (rubble shipped to Pale of Calais to strengthen defences, 1541).
1546
Thomas Arden obtains 8th BOROUGH charter: town’s autonomy confirmed.
1550
Streets paved.
1551
Thomas Arden (Controller of Customs) murdered - Arden of Feversham (play 1592).
1559
CREEK sluice built.
1560*
Gunpowder industry starts at HOME WORKS.
1574
New MARKET HOUSE built (becomes 3rd Guildhall 1603)
1585
More corn shipped through CREEK to London than from any other port (for 100 years).
1587
New GRAMMAR SCHOOL building opens.
1588
Hazard furnished to fight Spanish Armada.
1648
BOROUGH supports Protectorate.
1653
HOME WORKS expanded by Daniel Judd to increase output in first Dutch War.
1683
More wool exported through CREEK than from any English Port.
1685*
OARE GUNPOWDER WORKS founded by Huguenot immigrants (supplied East India Company)
1688
King James II’s brief imprisonment in FAVERSHAM.
1724
Smuggling rife through CREEK (Defoe).
1727
Faversham FARMERS’ CLUB formed (oldest in country)
1729
Chatham-Canterbury ROAD turnpiked.
1730
Faversham-Chilham ROAD turnpiked.
1751
First accurate MAP of town commissioned: signposts erected on Watling Street.
1759
HOME WORKS nationalised.
1762
Faversham-Ashford-Hythe ROAD turnpiked.
1771
Inner ABBEY gatehouse demolished.
1772
Outer ABBEY gatehouse demolished.
1773
MALL laid out (grand approach from Watling Street).
1789
PAVEMENT COMMISSION established.
1835
Municipal Reform Act - Faversham county borough/ unitary authority in all but name..
1840
Henry Wreight leaves fortune to town - provides Schools, Rec, new Almshouses.
1842
Faversham NAVIGATION COMMISSION formed; CREEK improved 1843
1847
First GUNCOTTON factory in world opens in Faversham
1850
First large-scale BRICKFIELD opens (ABBEY BRICKFIELD)
1858
Strood-Faversham RAILWAY opens (rich Jutish finds in KINGSFIELD during building).
1860
CREEK branch railway opens.
1862
INSTITUTE opens.
1863
New ALMSHOUSES open - biggest in Kent.
1870
William Gibbs bequeaths many KINGSFIELD finds to Nation: many others dispersed.
1874
First of UPLEES EXPLOSIVES FACTORIES opens.
1888
Local Government Act - KCC formed 1889.
1904
BOROUGH opens municipal power station.
1916
Great Explosion at UPLEES EXPLOSIVES FACTORIES - worst ever in UK.
1917
Pollock’s SHIPYARD opens.
1919
All UPLEES EXPLOSIVES FACTORIES close.
1920
Roman cemetery alongside Watling Street, OSPRINGE, excavated.
1930
OYSTER FISHERY COMPANY now a limited company, no longer a trade co-operative.
1934
GUNPOWDER factories close.
1948
BOROUGH electricity undertaking nationalised.
1958
Restoration of ABBEY STREET starts (first ‘town scheme’).
1964
Excavation of ABBEY starts: Belgic farmstead and Roman villa found adjacent.
1964
CREEK BRANCH railway closes.
Faversham Society begins restoration of CHART GUNPOWDER MILLS, oldest in world.
1968
NAVIGATION COMMISSION superseded by Medway Ports Authority (later bought by Mersey Docks & Harbour Company).
1974
BOROUGH abolished, Faversham absorbed into new Borough of Swale.
1975
SHIPYARD closes.
1977
Faversham Society opens FLEUR DE LIS HERITAGE CENTRE.
1979
INSTITUTE demolished.
1995
Faversham Society re-opens MAISON DIEU museum.