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