Venue Type & Location
Overview
Faversham had 3 guildhalls in the Tudor period. Little other than location is known about the 2 earlier guildhalls but the 3rd, with timber arcades open at the ground level, is still located at the N end of the marketplace.
The Elizabethan hall was on the upper storey but the early 19th c. renovation removed all traces of the original.
Performance History
As the seat of civic government and centre for festive occasions, Faversham's Guildhall was probably the venue for most performances by touring entertainers before the mayor and city officials between 1514 and 1624, the period during which relevant payments were recorded.
Current Status
History of the Venue
1547 New guildhall built over the gaol on the E side of Court Street. A previous guildhall of uncertain date existed in Tanners Street.
1574 New market hall built in the marketplace.
1604 Market hall converted for use as the 3rd guildhall for Faversham.
1814 Fire destroyed the upper level of the guildhall. Upper storey rebuilt in Regency style and extended by 2 bays to the N, with the clock tower and cupola replaced.
Record Source
REED Kent: Diocese of Canterbury 2.539--71
Patrons who owned this venue
[No data found.]
Bibliographic Sources
- Brayley, E.W. The Beauties of England and Wales; or Delineations, topographical, historical and descriptive of each county. 18 vols. London: Vernor and Hood, 1801--16
- Dane, Herbert. The Story of a Thousand Years: A Chronology of Faversham's History. Faversham: The Faversham Society, 1968
- Green, Ivan. The Book of the Cinque Ports: Their Origin and Development, Heyday and Decline. Buckingham: Barracuda, 1984
- Hasted, Edward. The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. 1st ed [1778]. 12 vols. Canterbury: Printed for the author by Simmons and Kirkby, 1778
- Jacob, Edward. The History of the Town and Port of Faversham, in the County of Kent. London: J. March, 1774
- Jessop, Frank W. A History of Kent. London and Chichester: Phillimore & Co. Ltd., 1974
- Newman, John. North East and East Kent. Harmondsworth and New York: Penguin, 1983
- Quiney, Anthony. Town Houses of Medieval Britain. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003
- Wilkinson, Philip and Peter Ashley. The English Buildings Book. Swindon: English Heritage, 2006