Faversham

Faversham, an ancient municipal borough and river-port of Kent, 52 miles by rail ESE. of London, and 10 WNW. of Canterbury, chiefly consists of four streets forming an irregular cross. It has a valuable oyster-fishery, and sends much agricultural produce to London. The creek on which it is situated admits vessels of 200 tons. In the vicinity are important powder-mills. Pop. (1851) 4595; (1891) 10,478. Under the name of Favresfield it was a seat of the Saxon kings, where Athelstan in 930 held a Witenagemot. It has scanty remains of a Clugniac abbey founded (1147) by King Stephen, whose tomb is pointed out in the parish church. This is a fine cruciform building, Early English in style, with a spire 148 feet high. Near it is the house of 'Arden of Feversham,' whose murder by his wife in 1551 forms the theme of an anonymous tragedy (1592; edited by A. H. Bullen, 1888). A grammar-school, founded in 1527, was rebuilt outside the town in 1879. In 1688 James II. was seized at Faversham, attempting to flee to France. See local histories by Jacob (1774) and Giraud (1876).