"It may not be improper to recite how highly this town hath been favoured by various kings of the realm in not less than 17 charters" 'History of Faversham' by Edward Jacob, 1774
English monarchs have for centuries been closely associated with Faversham.
The kings and queens listed below granted the town charters, gave it rights of self-government, endowed it with buildings of national importance and freed it from tax payments.
They conducted state business here, resided here and one was even buried here.
In return, the town produced goods that sustained the nation, worked and traded to increase its wealth, swore loyalty to the Crown and fought in the country's wars.
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Reign
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Monarch
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Association
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560-616
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Ethelbert
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Maintained a Royal residence at Faversham
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691-725
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Wihtred
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Issued charter of Cilling (Nagden)
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798-832
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Cenwulf
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Issued charter describing it as "The King's Town'
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925-939
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Athelstan
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Held a council meeting at Faversham
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1066-1087
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William I
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Granted Faversham Church to St Augustine's Abbey
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1147-1154
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Stephen
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Founded Faversham Abbey and buried there
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1199-1216
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John
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Granted fishery rights, including oyster fishery
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1216-1272
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Henry III
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Founded Maison Dieu on Ospringe Street. Granted charters giving legal immunities to town and recognising the Abbot of Faversham should hear court cases
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1272-1307
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Edward I
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Issued charters confirming immunities and freedom from taxes relating to Faversham as a Cinque Port and ordering port payments
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1327-1377
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Edward III
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Confirmed rights granted in earlier charters
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1399-1413
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Henry IV
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Granted freedoms and privileges
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1422-1461
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Henry VI
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Confirmed four earlier charters, granted immunities and supported claims on unlawful payments
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1461-1483
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Edward IV
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Confirmed rights granted in earlier charters
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1509-1547
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Henry VIII
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Issued charter granting various privileges
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1547-1553
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Edward VI
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Confirmed rights granted in earlier charter
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1553-1558
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Mary
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Visited Faversham
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1558-1603
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Elizabeth
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Ordained that a Elizabeth Queen of England grammar school should be founded .
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1660-1685
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Charles II
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Stayed in Faversham during the restoration of the monarchy
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1685-1688
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James II
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Conferred various appointments and was imprisoned in Faversham when attempting to flee the country
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1820-1830
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George IV
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Visited Faversham
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General associations with Kings and Queens
- Kings and queens stayed in or visited the town no fewer that 21 times between King John in 1201 and King George in 1821. At least three kings stayed overnight in the ‘king's chamber’ of the Maison Dieu.
- Six roads in the town are named after Kings: Egbert (802-839), Ethelbert (860-866), Ethelred I (866-871), Athelstan (925-939), Ethelred II (987-1016), Canute (1016-1035), Harold I (1035-1040), Harold II (1066-1066) and there is also 'King's Road'.
- Faversham is one of the few towns allowed to use the three lions from the Royal Arms on its Coat of Arms.
- Finds of jewellery suggest that there may have been a royal palace at 'Kings Field'. The name Kingsfield and the jewellery found there in such abundance may be the most significant considerations of all for the town's close, long-standing Royal connections. On the basis of this combined evidence, Kenneth Witney, the authority on Jutish ('Anglo-Saxon') Kent, considered that Faversham was a major residence of the Kings of Kent.
- "The King holds Favreshant" is how the entry for Faversham reads in the Domesday Book.