Maison Dieu, Faversham
| Maison Dieu | |
|
Kent | |
|---|---|
 Maison Dieu | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TR00366086 |
| Location: | 51°18’41"N, 0°52’25"E |
| Town: | Faversham |
| History | |
| Built 1234 | |
| Information | |
| Website: | https://maisondieu.org.uk/ |
Maison Dieu (the name meaning 'House of God') is a mediæval timber-framed building which stands in Faversham in Kent, beside the A2 road. It was built as a hospital, monastery, hostel, retirement home and royal lodge and commissioned by King Henry III in 1234.
Edward Hasted in 1798 notes that Maison Dieu was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It consisted of a master and three regular brethren of the Order of the Holy Cross. Also two secular clerks, were used to celebrate mass for the soul of the founder, and the souls of his royal predecessors and successors. They were to be hospitable, and give entertainment to the poor and needy passengers and pilgrims (heading along the Watling Street). There was a chamber in it, which the king used to repose himself when he passed this way, which was then called Camera Regis, or the king's chamber.[1]
History
In 1245, 'Robert de Bathel', the abbot of St Augustine's Abbey, in Canterbury, granted to the brethren of this hospital, wearing monastic habit, and the diseased who happened to die here, but to none else, the right of burial.[1]
Also King Henry III in 1240, granted to the master and brethren of the Maison Dieu, founded by him not many years before, the privilege of a market and a fair to be held in this parish of Hedcorn. The fair used formerly to be held on St.Peter's day, 29 June, though it had been for some years past, held on 12 June.[2]
In 1314, 'Nicholas de Staple' (the master), left the hospital after an argument with the other brethren, and went to the hospital of St. John the Baptist, Oxford. The brethren of the Oxford hospital sent a brother to Ospringe in his place. In 1334, he returned to Ospringe. In 1384, on a taxation, the revenues of this hospital were valued at the church of Hedcorn, at £13 6 shillings 8 pence..[1] On 28 September 1511, Archbishop Warham made a visit to the hospital.
In November, 1518, the last brethren of the Holy Cross order died, supposedly of the 'plague', which scared away others from the place.[3] Afterwards the hospital became secular. The estate was then passed to St John's College, Cambridge. The contents were given to the abbots of St Augustine's Abbey.
Later the building then became a public house.[3]
In 1573, the building was leased to Robert Transham (a friend of Thomas Arden (from the 1592 play Arden of Faversham)). He also rebuilt the Parsonage (also leased from St John's College), using materials from the Maison Dieu chapel. Robert was later buried in Ospringe Parish Church.[4]
In 1925, Maison Dieu became the earliest village museum in the land. In 1950, it was Grade II* listed.[5]
The house today
Maison Dieu is managed by the Maison Dieu Museum Trust in partnership with English Heritage. It displays Roman, Saxon and mediæval artefacts excavated locally. It is open at weekends and Bank Holidays from Good Friday to the end of October.
Outside links
- Maison Dieu – English Heritage
- The Maison Dieu Museum Trust
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (1798) , Volume 6, pages 499–531
- ↑ The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (1798), Volume 6, pages 324–336
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Edward Jacob: The history of the town and port of Faversham: in the county of Kent (1774) page 37
- ↑ Roy Kendall: Christopher Marlowe and Richard Baines: Journeys Through the Elizabethan (2003) page 176
- ↑ The Maison Dieu Museum, Faversham - British Listed Buildings