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From the chair
Spring has sprung, the buds have blossomed, the bluebells are out ridiculously early and with thoughts are turning to holidays – petrol prices and availability allowing – it seems wise to flag up an important date for our calendar. The Faversham Society annual general meeting is on Wednesday, 10 June.
No AGM should ever be a paper-shuffly, rubber-stampy event as it’s the opportunity for members to ask questions and raise issues with board members. Each AGM allows members to elect a new chair and vice-chair and, since each year, by rotation, some of the board members stand for re-election or choose to retire, the meeting provides an opportunity for any member to throw their hat into the ring. Nomination forms can be found on the link at the end of this piece, or can be picked up from the Visitor information Centre at 12 Market Place from 5 May.
This coming year will be particularly important for the society. We may have a reputation for dancing slowly, with an occasional rapid twirl, but even in the times when we may seem to be shuffling, there’s a lot going on. And, this is likely to be a year that demands us to be particularly energetic.
The overall shape of Faversham is changing as Swale Council focuses on meeting housing targets ignoring our own town plan. The Duchy of Cornwall’s developments planned for Southeast Faversham seem certain to proceed despite the supporting highway changes at Brenley Corner being abandoned. We have provided substantial support to Faversham town council for its judicial review of building on Ham Marshes, and will undoubtedly stand with the opposition to proposals for a new estate on Abbeyfields.
But at the same time, we need to assert ourselves in welcoming our new residents, who like many of us have moved to Faversham because they love it here.
In the town itself, there is much to do in discovering the complicated history of Arden’s House, which is revealing itself to be so much more than the site of the infamous murder (as if that wasn’t enough). There is a huge amount to be done making our library and archives of historical books and documents accessible to the town. And, we are also plotting and scheming with the Faversham Creek Trust to pursue promised environmental projects.
In short, it’s all go.
But, here’s the thing. Inside the society itself things are moving too. More members (yeah!) require more administration, the monthly members’ talks must be planned, along with a growing number of town walks. Volunteer rotas are organised (and reorganised). And behind the scenes and so often underestimated, even forgotten, is the expert management of our money and an increasing amount of required compliance with regulatory bodies.
Even something as brilliant as achieving formal accreditation for the museum comes with burdens of maintaining and updating policies and procedures.
So, if you have an appetite for being in the thick of things, please, consider seriously standing for election to the board. This is particularly the case if you have qualifications and experience in financial management, because our wonderful treasurer, Andrew Holden, has said he wishes to hand over the reins.
Finally, if this fails to convince you to spend an early June evening with fellow members, you certainly won’t want to miss the chance of the after-meeting talk about the history of Arden’s House.
favershamsociety.org/agm-2026
Medieval knife plague
Knife crime was rampant in the 1500s, and Jason Hullott, in his talk to society members, drew some interesting parallels with the issues that face us today.
Knives were often carried as everyday tools but their misuse was punished, often with a fine. European punishments were much more drastic: a criminal may well have suffered judicial mutilation: a hand (or other body part) amputated.
In Kent, Jason gave the example of John Gilbert, who appeared at Maidstone manorial court in 1506 for drawing his dagger on Henry Phelip while playing boules (bowls). He was fined 3s 6d.
Richard Harleston was fined the same amount for drawing a weapon at the butts during archery practice in 1517,
His conclusions drew some interesting parallels with the issues that face us today: ease of access to weapons, viable deterrents and problems with enforcing the law.
On 14 May, Wendy Mayfield will be talking on the history of Graveney. The village dates to 811 when land was acquired by Wilfred, Archbishop of Canterbury, from Cenulph, King of Mercia. Wendy explores the village’s history from the earliest Saxon records. She looks at continuity and change over the centuries and how external developments have had an impact. But there is still much more to discover, and to record for future generations, and she considers how this can be done effectively.
Wendy Tait Mayfield grew up in Graveney and Faversham, moving north as her civil service career took her to Newcastle upon Tyne and many other places in the UK and abroad. After taking early retirement, she worked as a genealogist, researching family histories and teaching genealogy until the pandemic.
Since then, she has set up the Graveney and Goodnestone One Place Study and publishing a history of Graveney School in time for its 150th anniversary last month. Wendy has given several talks on aspects of Graveney history and is the author of Paupers in the Family: A Century of Experiences in Selling, Faversham and Blean Workhouse, (Faversham Paper No 126).
Please make sure to book your place on this talk, via the Visitor Information Centre or the link below:
These garments need further investigation
We have a conundrum in the museum costume department. We know what these articles of clothing are but not why they are designed in this way.
Can anyone help us before we have to feel foolish and go to the experts such as the V&A?
These vests are usually tucked away in one of the drawers in the draper’s shop Childs on the first floor of the Fleur museum.
Quite recently we have been given some warm nightdresses made of a material now deemed flammable, from which blankets were also made.
What puzzles us about these vests and the nightdresses is that the shoulder pieces are not stitched together or fastened in any way. There is no way to fasten the chest opening either at the front or back and there are no waist ties to hold the garment in place.
In fact, what we take to be arm holes on a garment that opens down the back (or front) could be an area for a neck on a garment that opens down the side! Or even with the arms inside … no, that sounds silly!
If anyone feels they could help us we will be putting these items on display in the wedding dress exhibition in the museum gallery from 21 April.
Alice the puppet returns
The 2026 guided walks season got off to an excellent start on the first Saturday of April with an “exceptionally good tour” (many thanks to walking guest Adrian for this fabulous feedback left on social media) led by our longest-serving guide, Steve Bartholemew, who will be celebrating 40 years of Faversham town guiding this year. Congratulations and very many thanks on both counts, Steve!
And on Easter Monday, 30 or so of us paid our respects to those who lost their lives in the 1916 Uplees munitions explosion with a reflective walk over what was the Cotton Powder Company (CPC) site on the marshes, closing a series of commemorative events around Faversham.
Thanks to everyone who came and who contributed their own area of knowledge and expertise. It was fascinating, for example, to have the input of the geologist who explained the impact of the force of the explosion on the underlying clay and of those who helped us to reimagine the industrial landscape of early 1916 with detailed knowledge of the buildings.
We were blessed with glorious weather which added, somehow, to the atmosphere of reflection and commemoration by granting us some peaceful respite from the usual bracing wind. We acknowledge too, the kindness of Stephen and Liz Ledger, who farm there and who not only allowed us to traverse their land to get a closer look at the remains of some of the CPC’s most significant buildings, but lent materials and contributed local knowledge.
Looking ahead, we are proud to be partnering with Faversham town council once again on Active Walking Month, to be held this year in May. Given the scorching temperatures last June, which may have deterred some potential walkers, we are hoping that the change of dates will give this year’s offering an added appeal.
To allow you to get the dates in your diary, here is a short outline of what we will be offering this year:
- The Cross-Town Walking Route – A Look at the Trees along the Way on Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May, at 10.30am;
- Late Victorian Faversham on Thursday, 14 May, at 5pm;
- And The Cross-town Walk East to West – a Slice Through Faversham’s History on Sunday, 17 May, at 2.30pm.
As ever, all walks are free for Faversham Society members. For full details – including detailed route and content descriptions – see the walks page of the society website.
And finally, as we gear up to welcome several large groups to Faversham over the next few weeks, we were delighted to hear that our wonderful and historical town will be getting additional deserved attention as part of the Town of Culture 2028 bid.
Walkers pay tribute to blast victims
The 2026 guided walks season got off to an excellent start on the first Saturday of April with an “exceptionally good tour” (many thanks to walking guest Adrian for this fabulous feedback left on social media) led by our longest-serving guide, Steve Bartholemew, who will be celebrating 40 years of Faversham town guiding this year. Congratulations and very many thanks on both counts, Steve!
And on Easter Monday, 30 or so of us paid our respects to those who lost their lives in the 1916 Uplees munitions explosion with a reflective walk over what was the Cotton Powder Company (CPC) site on the marshes, closing a series of commemorative events around Faversham.
Thanks to everyone who came and who contributed their own area of knowledge and expertise. It was fascinating, for example, to have the input of the geologist who explained the impact of the force of the explosion on the underlying clay and of those who helped us to reimagine the industrial landscape of early 1916 with detailed knowledge of the buildings.
We were blessed with glorious weather which added, somehow, to the atmosphere of reflection and commemoration by granting us some peaceful respite from the usual bracing wind. We acknowledge too, the kindness of Stephen and Liz Ledger, who farm there and who not only allowed us to traverse their land to get a closer look at the remains of some of the CPC’s most significant buildings, but lent materials and contributed local knowledge.
Looking ahead, we are proud to be partnering with Faversham town council once again on Active Walking Month, to be held this year in May. Given the scorching temperatures last June, which may have deterred some potential walkers, we are hoping that the change of dates will give this year’s offering an added appeal.
To allow you to get the dates in your diary, here is a short outline of what we will be offering this year:
- The Cross-Town Walking Route – A Look at the Trees along the Way on Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May, at 10.30am;
- Late Victorian Faversham on Thursday, 14 May, at 5pm;
- And The Cross-town Walk East to West – a Slice Through Faversham’s History on Sunday, 17 May, at 2.30pm.
As ever, all walks are free for Faversham Society members. For full details – including detailed route and content descriptions – see the walks page of the society website.
And finally, as we gear up to welcome several large groups to Faversham over the next few weeks, we were delighted to hear that our wonderful and historical town will be getting additional deserved attention as part of the Town of Culture 2028 bid.
Artefacts and shanties
Two archaeologists, a group of shanty singers, a video crew and Faversham Society members spent the day in the Fleur hall studying archives and handling artefacts.
It was full on. Museum workers said: “Your singing was great, but we were worried the ceiling was going to come down when you thumped on the floor!”
Harry Farmer and Dr Paul Montgomery from Mola (the Museum of London Archaeology), are undertaking the Coasts in Mind Study of four coastal communities over three years to examine the changes of the past century.
The Swale estuary, including Faversham, is one of the chosen areas. You probably already know about last year’s dig on the Front Brents and the exhibition in the museum. We are all working towards a national presentation sometime in late 2026 or 2027. Just google “Coasts in Mind” to find out more. This is a big project.
The morning of our day in the museum was spent learning about archiving under the direction of Paul from Mola. We learnt how historical and archaeological research depends greatly on detailed and accurate archiving. The afternoon was spent looking at the artefacts in Brian “Sixer” Boorman’s sea chest, which has recently been acquired by the museum.
Paul stressed that it’s often important to be wearing gloves when working in archives and to handle things carefully. When I opened a bag and pulled out a nose ring made from turtle skin, and a large bone nose pin, collected in the Solomon Islands in the 1970s, believe me when I say I was thankful to have gloves on.
The museum day was the second that the Mola archaeologists and Upping the Shanty girls were together. The previous day we met in the Purifier Building and started in Colin Frake’s workshop. Colin believes he is now the only traditional blockmaker left in the country. He has made the blocks for HMS Victory, the flagship of the Royal Navy, and the Cutty Sark among many others.
In the afternoon we learnt about Pollock’s Boatyard and what happened to some of the boats built there. This included a presentation by the archivist from the Lloyds Register of Shipping which was fascinating and informative.
Interestingly, when a boat or ship reached the end of its working life – sank, maybe, or was wrecked – it was entered into the column headed “casualty”. Only the name of the ship, mind; not the lives lost. This was a purely commercial operation.
Upping the Shanty are an all-women’s singing group based at the Gospel Mission in Tanners Street, Faversham. They sing traditional shanties – which they customise – and songs of the sea. This year they will be at the Hop Festival, the Pirates Festival, the Canterbury Festival and many other local events. Under the direction of leader Christine Adams, they are composing their own songs and shanties for Coasts in Mind. These will be professionally recorded and included in the Coasts in Mind national presentation.
The song Upping the Shanty performed at the Fleur hall was inspired by the childhood memories of one of the group’s members, Cici, who was born in Faversham.
Christine Adams, a local music teacher and community musician, can be contacted on the address below. She also runs the Faversham men’s shanty crew, Lowering the Tone.
christineadamsmusic@gmail.com
Kiwi pilot’s sacrifice
Nigel Morgan spotted this plaque at Sandbanks Farm, Graveney, and thought the Faversham Society should record the sacrifice of Pilot Officer Kenneth Wendel, who died there in September, 1940. He would have been 90 this month.
Nigel said: “It would be fitting if the community was reminded of the sacrifice he made for us, travelling to the other side of the world at such a young age and giving his life.”
Membership help
Are you good with a spreadsheet? Organised and efficient? Have a couple of hours a week to spare?
We could do with another pair of hands to help with some of the membership admin. The society now has more than 900 members and there is much to do. Most can be done remotely but you’d also need to be able to pop into town once a week.
If you think you can help, then please get in touch with me at the address below.
membership@favershamsociety.org
Fleur garden opens
We are opening the museum garden as part of Open Gardens and need some extra stewards to sit in the sunshine and chat to people about it.
Information willbe made available for you and other people around to ask, so it’s not difficult to do. If you can spare a couple of hours on Sunday, 28 June, between 10am and 4pm, then please let us know on the address below.
fleurmuseum@favershamsociety.org