Henry V at the Lion Hotel

In November, 1415, King Henry V was entertained at the Lion Inn in the High Street on his return from the battle of Agincourt by Squire Northwode, of Milton. It is believed that he dined in the hall there, and his retinue were accommodated.

Seven years later his body was taken through Sittingbourne on its route from France to Westminster Abbey.

 Red Lion SHMI01264 h

Sittingbourne Ship Builders

At one time Milton Creek at Sittingbourne was by far the largest of the ship/barge building areas on the Kentish Swale. Barges for the transport of raw materials, bricks and paper were built here, and during the Second World War, minesweepers, torpedo boats and harbour launches were constructed at Sittingbourne.

 Raybel SHMI01071 h

The sailing barge Raybel (pictured at her launch in 1920) has recently returned to Milton Creek for restoration - see Projects

Sittingbourne's Cattle Market

Until 1969 Sittingbourne had a regular stock market and auction in the ground behind the Bull Hotel in the High Street. In the early years, cattle would be herded to and from the market, and would quite often break free, running amok down the High Street.

Cattle mkt SHMI01326 h 

 

Anglo Saxon Cemetery

In 2008, and Anglo-Saxon Cemetery was discovered at The Meads in Sittingbourne and 227 graves were excavated. The majority of the graves contained grave goods; over 2500 objects, including weapons, dress accessories, knives and vessels. Some of the graves contained considerable numbers of objects, including several rich weapon burials (almost certainly those of men) and three, female gendered, burials with garnet-inlaid brooches, including a plated disc brooch. Many of the graves contained sets of glass, amber or amethyst beads; there were over 300 glass beads in one grave alone.

Anglo Saxon 

The Graveney Boat

The discovery in 1970 of the Graveney boat – an Anglo-Saxon boat built circa 900AD – revealed the earliest evidence of hops in the UK. However, Faversham's first known link with brewing follows the founding of the town's abbey in 1147 by King Stephen. Within the site was a brewhouse, which produced ale for the monks.

The abbey was approximately one-third of a mile north of Shepherd Neame's present site with the brewhouse close to the north-east end of Abbey Street above a well, containing natural, chalk-filtered water.

By 1327, brewing in Faversham was conducted by at least 86 women, known as ale wives. Most of them sold their beer from their homes, but some were innkeepers.

 Graveney boat