Herbert Richards begins campaign to save Abbey Street.

Arden’s House threatened with demolition: KCC refuses BPO. See image 1 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

Arden’s House bought for £950 by Mr C. F. Hallward and restored.

Fred Bishop appointed Town Clerk. Architectural students from School of Architecture at Canterbury undertake survey of Abbey Street.

Borough Council seeks advice of SPAS on Abbey Street. On basis of students’ report, it recommends restoration. Council takes its advice, starts buying properties under slum-clearance powers and selling to owners who undertake to restore them sympathetically.
See image 2 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

Abbey Street Preservation Society formed as ‘owners’ club’. 84-87 Preston Street demolished, site developed in unsympathetic fashion for supermarket.

Faversham Society formed at public meeting in Guildhall. See image 3 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

Society’s first temporary museum display at 67 Preston Street. Society secures postponement of demolition of Chart Gunpowder Mills (oldest in world). Trees planted on left bank of Creek by Society.

Society’s first oral history programme completed Town Brochure first published by Society. Society publishes The Mayoralty of Faversham, first in series of Faversham Papers (monographs about area’s past). See image 4 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

Museum opens in lower room at Maison Dieu, Ospringe. Society defeats plan for marina on Swale near Harty Ferry (site now a nature reserve and SSSI recognised as of international importance).

West Street pedestrianisation plan published by Society (later implemented by Borough Council). Society’s efforts to save Davington Court Barn (marooned in new housing development) result in it being dismantled and being re-erected at Edenbridge.

Chart Gunpowder Mills bought by Society: restoration appeal launched. Society objects to KCC proposals for Inner Ring Road; undertakes Origin and Destination Traffic Survey (not undertaken by ICCC, who rely on intuition; formulates alternative proposal for Western Link Road and presents at major Public Inquiry. See image 5 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

Society suggests conservation area, is supported by Borough Council.

Restoration of Chart Gunpowder Mills begun by Society. Society organizes first Open House Scheme. Minister of Transport accepts Society suggestion that in future national amenity organisations (like Civic Trust) should be consulted about proposed increases in weights and sizes of heavy lorries.

Government reject KCC’s Inner Ring Road scheme, ask it to consider Society’s alternative Western Link Road proposal. Faversham Papers No 10 (Faversham History Trails) published by Society.

Society buys Fleur de Lis for conversion into Heritage Centre. See image 6 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

KCC rent part of Fleur de Lis from Society to accommodate staff studying Society road proposal.

Charity shop opened in Fleur de Lis to raise money for conversion.

The Times publishes article about Society. See image 7 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

Conversion of Fleur de Lis begins.

Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre opens. See image 8 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

Society opens Tourist information Centre at Fleur de Lis.

First French, German and Dutch version of Town Brochure published by Society. Society submits evidence to Armitage Inquiry on Lorries.

New accommodation for Doddington Parochial Library opened at Fleur de Lis.

Working Strowger-type village telephone exchange installed at Fleur de Lis. See image 9 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

PABX from Bensted House installed at Fleur.

Faversham History Project launched. Faversham Historians begin meeting under Society auspices. See image 10 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

First Japanese version of Town Brochure published simultaneously in Tokyo and Faversham Society publishes first comprehensive Faversham Bibliography in seven volumes (six on primary sources, one on secondary sources).

Former Oare Gunpowder Works: first full field survey published jointly by Society and Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (Faversham Papers No 39). Society represented on steering group formed to oversee creation of a country/industrial heritage park at the Works. Society re-opens Maison Dieu, Ospringe, closed by English Heritage ten years previously.11 It installs new displays costing £5,000, having raised the money for them. See image 11 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

Tourist Information Centre enquiries reach 12,000 a year. Society takes over official Tourist Information Points in Central Car Park and in lay-by on west-bound A2 at Boughton. At Society’s suggestion, parking rebate scheme is introduced in town car parks. Shoppers can reclaim cost of first hour’s parking on making purchases in participating town shops.

Society leases 10-11 Preston Street and launches £330,000 appeal for much-needed expansion of Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre. Society assumes responsibility for day-to-day oversight of Stone Church, in guardianship of English Heritage and the only church in England to incorporate remains of a pagan Roman shrine.12 Society publishes Thomas Arden in Faversham, by Patricia Hyde, first full biography of the ‘hero’ of the Elizabethan play Arden of Faversham. Over 600 pages long, it includes first publication of the Abbey rentals of 1515 and 1532, as well as of much other local 16th-century primary source material. See image 12 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

First full-colour leaflet to promote Society visitor attractions published.

Heritage Lottery Fund offers Society £473,000 towards £750,000 cost of Fleur de Lis expansion. Millenium Fund offers Society £19,500 towards cost of Faversham Millenium video. Society buys 10-11 Preston Street.

Work on expansion of the Fleur de Lis begins. Successful millennium production of Arden of Faversham in garden of Arden's House. Society decides to buy 12 Preston Street for further expansion of the Fleur de Lis. Roof of Maison Dieu restored by English Heritage.

Expanded Tourist Information Centre and shop opens at 10-11 Preston Street. Society's Faversham Millennium video released.

First phase of updated Museum displays opens at 10-11 and 13 Preston Street. Fleur de Lis Gallery opens at 13 Preston Street.

For benefit of disabled visitors, DVD show of first-floor displays opens at 13 Preston Street.

Gunpowder Room with DVD show opens at 13 Preston Street.

Discussion starts about possible display of Anglo-Saxon Graveney Boat in Faversham. Eightieth anniversary of original Maison Dieu museum opening and 40th anniversary of Society's first museum there celebrated. See image 13 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

New museum displays opened in "Big Shed" at rear of 10-11 Preston Street. Ugly 1960s shopfront at 12 Preston Street replaced by replica of original late 19th Century shopfront. See image 14 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

Faversham Papers No 100 published: reprint of Old Faversham by Arthur Percival.

Fine Georgian shopfront, repatriated from Chicago, installed in 10-11 Preston Street garden. New upper floor displays opened at Maison Dieu. See image 15 in gallery at the bottom of this page.

New meeting room opened at rear of 12 Preston Street. New lower-floor displays opened at Maison Dieu.

Society changes status from that of a charity and unincorporated association to a charity and company limited by guarantee.

Society awarded over £200,000 to create new museum reception in no.12 Preston Street, conserve fabric of the building and pay for p/t Learning Manager to develop learning activities. New reception opened July 2013.