Faversham in the Making: The Early Years: The Ice Ages until AD 1550

Description

Well known for its later gunpowder industry and the famous Sheherd Neame brewery, Faversham’s earlier medieval history also reveals it to have been an important religious and administrative center. The town archives possess an unusually complete set of medieval-onwards town charters and other documents including a Magna Carta. Using archaeological and historical evidence set in an ever-changing physical and social context, the authors argue that there is a great deal more to this small town on the North Kent coast than is obvious at first glance. There is a wealth of evidence for prehistoric settlement with the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age being particularly well represented archaeologically and Roman remains indicate a very prosperous phase up to around the AD 270s, followed by drastic changes. Abundant evidence for ironworking is described. The book charts the rise of the town from Pagan Jutish origins through the medieval period, centered originally around the establishment of an Abbey and other religious houses but developing as a trading port and wealthy market town. Supporting evidence is drawn from a variety of archaeological sources (Victorian antiquarians, modern excavations, various voluntary and community archaeology groups) and historical documents. The authors present the story of Faversham in a vivid and accessible narrative that reveals a new history of this ancient Kentish market town. Table of Contents Contributors Acknowledgements Acronyms and abbreviations used in text Foreword 1. Welcome to Faversham (or Feversham, Febresham – choose from 20 alternatives) 2. Ice, mammoths and the first people: 600,000–8000 BC 3. The people of the great warm-up: 8000–55 BC 4. The coming of Rome: 55 BC–AD 410 5. Faversham and the Kingdom of Kent: AD 410–825 6. Invasion: AD 825–1100 Patricia Reid and Michael Frohnsdorff 7. Peace, patronage, and the hand of God: AD 1100–1400 Duncan Harrington 8. Faversham Town reborn: AD 1400–1550 Duncan Harrington 9. The archaeology of medieval Faversham, above and below the ground: AD 1100–1550 10. Epilogue: winds of change: AD 1550–1600 Bibliography