FAVERSHAM, is a market-town of England, in the county of Kent, situated on a navigable river, which com municates with the river Swale. The lour streets of which it is composed form an irregular' cross, having the guild hall and market place at the centre. Many of the houses are large and handsome, and the streets are well lighted and paved.
The church, dedicated to St Mary of Charity, is sup posed to have been built about the time of Edward I. It is spacious and handsome, and is built of flint in the form of a cross, the angles being formed of stone. It consists principally of a nave with aisles, transept and chancel, and there is at the west end a light tower with pinnacles, and terminated by an octagonal spire 73 reet high. The inte rior of the church underwent a thorough repair in the year 1755, froin the designs of Dance. The tower and spire were erected since that time. The church is 160 feet long and 65 broad, the length of the transept 124 feet, and its width 46. There are no galleries in the church ; and the organ, which cost abovc,400/., is placed in a niche formed by the walls of the belfry.
The guildhall, or market-house, was built of timber in 1594, and has an open space between the pillars beneath. There is here a free grammar school, founded by Queen Elizabeth, and endowed to the annual amount of 901. There are also two small charity schools, established in 1716, and supported chiefly by voluntary subscriptihns, for instruct ing and clothing 12 poor boys, and 12 girls. There are also almshouses, and other good benefactions, for the poor The buildings of the celebrated abbey of Faversham, were once extensive and numerous. The two entrance gates
remained till about 47 years ago, when they were taken down. Nothing now remains but the outer walls of the precincts, to point out the site of the abbey.
The manufacture of gunpowder is carried on to a great extent in the vicinity of Faversham, under the su perintendance of a branch of the ordnance. This manu facture is supposed to have been established before the time of Elizabeth. The works were purchased from in dividuals by government in 1760, and were soon after re built in a safe and substantial manner. The different mills and storehouses are principally situated on the stream that flows from Ospringe. They are constantly at work night and day, the men relieving each other in parties. The quantity of powder manufactured annually, amounts to be tween 12,000 and 13,000 barrels, which gives employment to about 400 individuals. The mills were blown up in 1781, by the explosion of about 7000 lbs. of powder. The noise was heard at 20 miles distance.
The oyster fishery is the principal source of the trade of Faversham, more than 200 families being supported by it. Before the last war Faversham oysters were annu ally exported to Holland to the amount of 30001. or 40001. annually. Besides the coasting trade, Faversham supplies London with great quantities of corn, hops, cherries, apples, and oysters.
The following is the statistical abstract for the parish in 1811, including the out-liberty.
See Hasted's History of Kent ; and the Beauties of England and Wales, vol. viii. p. 723. (Iv)