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From the chair
ANN FUREDI
A couple of weeks ago, I was having a quick lunch with a fellow bookshop volunteer in Cosgroves (other cafés are available) when the couple on the next table asked for directions to the Shrine of St Jude.
Since they sounded Canadian and were clearly visiting, it seemed polite to ask where they were from, and, “why Faversham?” Ever since I was elected to the society chair, I feel honour-bound to ask this of visitors. Harold Goodwin may have said curiosity about newcomers was an essential part of the job description or perhaps it’s just natural nosiness.
It this case it triggered an expansive account of how family-tree research had uncovered three brothers of a great-grandparent. The men had worked on the marshes in the explosives mills and had at some point emigrated to Canada to undertake similar work there. The Vancouver couple had spent time walking the town, identifying where long-dead relatives had lived, and had spent time in the museum learning about the industry here and searching for photographs.
The highlight of their trip was Chris Wootton’s generosity in introducing them to the owner of the shop that had, generations ago been the brothers’ home, and arranging for them to see what would have been the probable living quarters. It’s hard to describe just how excited they were about the whole experience. Everything mattered – the museum, the attention given to them by volunteers, and the friendliness of people who seemed genuinely interested in them as the distant offspring of migrants from our town.
The conversation brought to mind a book I read recently, The Road to Somewhere: The New Tribes Shaping British Politics, by David Goodhart and published shortly after Brexit. Obviously, it is it has nothing to do with Canadians in Faversham coffee shops, but it has everything to do with attitudes to place and to family connections.
Goodhart has a theory that the traditional divisions in society have been distorted by the differences in our values, which are not always to do with economics and class.
He alludes to two “tribes”. One is a large minority group he calls Anywheres with cosmopolitan values who are as happy in Brussels as in London, who embrace social change and want to cast off tradition. Although numerically the Anywheres are a minority they are often in the positions of power tending to set the agenda (or at least try to).
The larger, but less influential group, Goodhart called the Somewheres, who value security, and familiarity and tradition … and, crucially, family and place. Somewheres have roots.
In many ways, I think we are a town that leans more towards Somewhere than Anywhere. We value our community, we are proud of our traditions, our history, our quirkiness. That doesn’t mean that we want to distance from strangers – we love it when people from across the Atlantic want to trace their roots back to ours, because it means they are identifying with us. They value what we value. They are Somewheres too.
As the town expands, as it clearly will, the task will be to keep the town true to the values of the people who value it. There’s the rest of the world, which is great, but Faversham is home. Have a lovely summer and direct anyone, of any age, who says they’re bored to the VIC.
A great night at the museum
NEIL TONGE
Tales of ghosts, gunpowder and good works in the First World War were shared with a select group of visitors who toured the Fleur de Lis Museum on a very hot evening in June.
The first Night at the Museum activity, organised by Leigh Allison and Jane Secker, involved three groups of intrepid visitors being sent off in turn to listen to four speakers at points around the building.
The appropriately dressed speakers were: Graham Sample, a monk who related tales about Faversham Abbey, Catherine Lee who talked about the production of gunpowder, Jason Cox who shared ghost stories, and Christine Rayner, dressed as a First World nurse (right), who told the story of three prominent people from the era – Mrs Carrie Alexander, the mayor’s wife, who organised the setting up of the hospital at The Mount; Frances Crosse, the vicar’s daughter who devoted herself to caring for the wounded soldiers sent there and Philip Neame, the country’s only VC and Olympian gold medallist.
All the speakers were kept to their 15-minute talk time by museum curator Heather Wootton, dressed as a Victorian schoolmarm and holding a bell, which she rang heartily (and alarmingly) as the time ran out.
Leigh and Jane were joined by Katie Begg and Sue Gower, all dressed as wenches, to serve guests with cooling drinks and snacks.
Leigh said: “It was a great success and I’m so grateful to everyone who turned out on a really hot night to join the fun.”
Journey through history
VICTORIA LEONARD
The Faversham Society is pleased to announce a series of monthly talks, focusing on aspects of history in Faversham and Kent.
The talks all take place on the second Thursday of the month from October to next May (excluding December), so save the dates now. Each session starts at 7.30pm. Tickets must be booked, either via our website or at the Visitor Information Centre at 12 Market Place. They are free for Faversham Society members and £5 for non-members.
Witch Bottles: Decoys, Spirit Traps or Counter Witchcraft Measures? Join archaeologist Wayne Perkins to learn more about the use of these bottles to ward off evil spirits in the 17th century. His talk includes examples found in Kent. Guildhall, 9 October
Jane Austen in Kent. The novelist had many Kent connections, as Dr Susan Civale, reader in romanticism at Canterbury Christ Church University, reveals in this illustrated talk. This year is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Assembly Rooms, 13 November.
The History of Vikings in Kent. Kent Archaeological Society’s curator, Andy Ward, delves into the archaeological evidence of the Vikings in Kent. Discover when they landed, their impact on the county’s archaeology, and the modern misconceptions we still hold. Assembly Rooms, 8 January.
Legendary and Ghostly Kent. Dr Geoff Doel, author of local history and lecturer for Canterbury Christ Church University, uncovers Kentish legends and myths, monsters, saints and ghostly hauntings. Assembly Rooms, 12 February.
Stone Chapel, Our Lady of Elverton. Dr Heidi Stoner (Canterbury Christ Church University) and Rich Best (Canterbury Archaeological Trust) discuss the successive phases of Faversham Stone Chapel, from Roman building to Medieval chapel. Assembly Rooms, 12 March.
Medieval Knife Crime. Jason Hulott, chief instructor at Canterbury Medieval Combat, explores knife violence during the 14th to 16th centuries. Jason will highlight the roles of knives as both tools and weapons, and touch on the deaths of Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Arden. Assembly Rooms, 9 April.
The History of Graveney. The first records of the village of Graveney are as land acquired in 811 by Wilfred, Archbishop of Canterbury, from Cenulph, King of Mercia. Wendy Mayfield will explore Graveney’s history, from the earliest Saxon records. Assembly Rooms, 14 May
Summer, the walking season
CATHERINE LEE
Walking with History is celebrating high summer by offering a short programme of walks on various themes and at various times.
In addition to our regular Saturday morning schedule, during July and August we’re offering members and non-members alike the opportunity to sample a variety of themed walks during the longer evenings (you’ll be finished when the night is still young and refreshment venues still open!) and on Bank Holiday Monday.
Don’t forget that it’s one of your perks of membership that you can join a walk at no cost – and there’s no limit to the number of walks that you can take! But do register first – either online or in person (in advance for evening walks) at the Visitor Information Centre at 12 Market Place – to avoid disappointment. All walks leave from the VIC.
So we’re delighted to announce the following:
Murder and Intrigue: The Sorry Tale of Alice Arden – with Martin. You’ve heard the podcasts – you’ve read the book and heard the talk! This walk offers the chance to re-examine the Arden story on the very spot where it happened. Wednesday 23 July. Departs 6.30pm.
Summer Evening Stroll – with Graham. Enjoy our regular Walking with History route in the relaxed conditions and long shadows of a summer evening. Wednesday 6 August. Departs 6pm.
Faversham’s Victorian legacy. What did the Victorians do for us? Quite a lot, it seems! Join Mary on this summer evening walk of discovery to learn more. Tuesday 12 August. Departs 6pm.
Exploding with History – Faversham’s Gunpowder Heritage – with Catherine. This walk includes a visit to Chart Mills and explores the impact of the gunpowder industry on the town’s history and built environment. Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August. Departs 10.30am.
Arden: was it a conspiracy?
LEIGH ALLISON
Join Glyn Harper and Heather Knight for a discussion – in the Guildhall at 7pm on 25 September – about the conspiracy theories behind the Arden murder. Was someone else involved in the crime? Who wrote the play? And why it was published anonymously?
Glyn researched these questions while writing his recent novel, Arden, and Heather is the theatrical archaeologist responsible for the excavation of Shakespeare’s first London playhouses, the Theatre and the Curtain.
He will present the evidence he has uncovered about Faversham’s most infamous crime and William Shakespeare’s involvement with it. He promises to unveil some startling new discoveries he has made since writing his novel. Heather will quiz him about these findings, and there will be plenty of time for questions from the audience at the end.
Tickets are free for Faversham Society members and £5 for non-members, but must be booked due to limited capacity. They can be booked online at the address below or at the Visitor Information Centre.
Favershamsociety.org/live-events
More free papers to download
LEIGH ALLISON
More free Faversham Papers are now available on our website. These may appeal to people interested in tracing their local family history. You can find lots of information here. Here they are:
Monumental Inscriptions from Selling Church and Churchyard, by Alan Neame. Lists the church monuments and those in the churchyard, with plans. It also has details from the war memorials for both wars.
Davington Parish and People, by Kenneth Melrose. Almost 200 pages of detailed research relating to the parish church and area.
Oare Parish and People, by Kenneth Melrose. Covering Roman remains at Oare, Tudor muster rolls, details from the petty sessions covering Tudors and Stuarts with further details up to the 19th century. These include listed buildings and transcripts of monuments and tombstones and various extracts from parish registers.
Graveney Gleanings, by Kenneth Melrose. Covers the Graveney and Goodnestone areas. This paper includes census extracts and information from parish registers dating from 1611.
Faversham Ships and Seamen in the 16th Century, by Patricia Hyde. Huge amounts of detail relating to the ships, their owners, masters and mariners. It includes details of seaman’s bonds. A great resource for family historians with seafaring ancestors.
Lees Court History and Architecture, by Tempest Hay. Details the history and architecture of the mansion house and the story of the Sondes family.
Hopping in Verse, by Charlie Smissen. A light-hearted collection of verses written by a local gardener and nurseryman.
Please note, these are the original papers, some dating from the 1970s and have not been updated.
See the link below and adjust the filter to “free” for the complete selection.
Open Gardens flourishes
Faversham Open Gardens was back with a bang this year, run as part of the National Garden Scheme, but with support provided by the Faversham Society. The day was a great success with more than 1,300 tickets sold, 27 gardens open and 30 stalls in a themed market.
Almost £8,500 was raised, with more than £1,200 donated to the Abbey Physic Garden.
The society’s new, wildlife-friendly garden, planted at the Fleur de Lis Museum, had 725 visitors. Based on Edward Jacob’s 1777 book listing, all 300 plants found in Faversham and the surrounding area, it has been planted up in the last year and is proving popular with the local wildlife already.
If you feel inspired to join in next year, please get in touch at the address below. And don’t forget to put the date in your 2026 diary, Sunday 28 June.
favershamopengardens@gmail.com
Shopfront’s long journey
Visitors to Open Gardens last month admired the new garden, and some were also intrigued by the elegant Georgian shopfront on display.
It originally adorned 4 Market Place (the China Garden restaurant is there now), where John Dawson had his bakery and confectioner’s shop. Dawson had the new front made in 1820. The fine design and craftmanship is astonishing.
Dawson died in 1850 and the shopfront was modernised with new panes of glass. These were still in place in 1932 when the shopfront was dismantled, and sold to the Art Institute of Chicago.
There, it was displayed as part of a European streetscape exhibit for more than 40 years. In the mid-1990s when it was presented to the Faversham Society by the institute’s trustees and brought back to the UK. It was installed beneath a protective canopy in 2008 and has been on display in our garden since.
Grimwood Adventure
Join us this August for a bonkers museum trail, part of the national Grimwood Museum Adventure with Kids in Museums and Simon & Schuster children’s books.
The Grimwood series concerns the fox cub siblings Ted and Nancy, who are on the run from Princess Buttons, a scary street cat in the city. They flee for Grimwood, where they meet some unusual characters, including thieving eagles, dramatic ducks and riotous rabbits.
Spot Grimwood characters hiding around the Fleur museum, elect a new Mayor of Grimwood and design a campaign poster! Complete the trail and get a free Grimwood sticker. Plus, enter our competition – one winner will receive a signed Grimwood book bundle.
Treat for Byron fans
WENDY CLARKE
The Fleur Bookshop has received a specialist donation on the poet Byron and we are featuring these books in a window display with works of other poets of the same era. Do pop in or have a look. Thank you again to everyone who donates their books, helping to make our shop so varied and interesting.