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Davington Priory, Faversham

Introduction

Davington Priory has 1.25 hectares (3 acres) of garden and grounds associated with the Benedictine Priory which dates from 1153. The priory and grounds were restored in 1848 by Thomas Willement, a stained glass artist. Much of Willement's work remains incorporated into a garden shelter and octagonal summer house.

The central feature of the grounds is a paddock of 0.5 hectares which is grazed by Jacobs sheep. This is surrounded on three sides by a thin strip of mixed woodland, and on the fourth by a ha-ha (built in 1979) to the front of the priory. Other parts of the garden include a now -derelict walled garden, a vegetable garden on the steep slope leading down to Davington Hill, and lawned areas with specimen shrubs, and trees with some herbaceous planting.

The ‘cloister garden', although a 20th century innovation, is of special interest containing a knot garden of bedding plants edged with box hedging within a gravelled area, and a fine Magnolia grandifiora specimen against the priory walls. Other specimen trees in the grounds include walnut, Catalpa, cedar of Lebanon, weeping ash and Robinia.

The owners are currently considering a re-design and re-vamp of the grounds (1988).

Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts

Access contact details

Private house

Directions

The site is 1 mile west of Faversham.

Owners

Mr and Mrs B Geldof

Other Websites

History

The priory was founded as a Benedictine nunnery in 1153. From the start, the income of the priory was insufficient to support even a small number of nuns, and the last prioress died in 1534.

The priory passed to the Crown, and then through a series of successive owners, falling into a continuing worsening state of repair until restored to a high standard in the late -18th century by Thomas Willement, a stained glass artist. Remnants of Willement's work in the garden survive today as an octagonal summer house and a small shelter incorporating one of his stained glass windows.

Following Willement's death in 1871, the priory again fell into disrepair, this time under the Lands of the Church, From 1947-1971 the priory was leased to George Roberts who ran a plant nursery from the walled garden. The priory was then bought by Christopher Gibb, who carried out a considerable restoration programme, particularly with respect to Willement's ornamentation and sold to the current owners, Mr and Mrs Geldof, in 1982.

Period

  • Medieval (1066 to 1540)
  • 12th Century (1101 to 1200)
Associated People
Features & Designations

Features

  • Summerhouse
  • Description: Remnants of Willement?s work in the garden survive today as an octagonal summer house and a small shelter incorporating one of his stained glass windows.
  • Latest Date:
  • Priory (featured building)
  • Description: The priory was founded as a Benedictine nunnery in 1153.
  • Earliest Date:
  • Latest Date:
  • Structure
  • Description: The central feature of the grounds is a paddock of 0.5 hectares which is grazed by Jacobs sheep.
  • Ha-ha
  • Earliest Date:
  • Latest Date:
  • Knot Garden
  • Description: The `cloister garden?, although a 20th century innovation, is of special interest containing a knot garden of bedding plants edged with box hedging within a gravelled area, and a fine Magnolia grandifiora specimen against the priory walls.
  • Specimen Tree
  • Description: Other specimen trees in the grounds include walnut, Catalpa, cedar of Lebanon, weeping ash and Robinia.
Key Information

Type

Garden

Purpose

Ornamental

Principal Building

Religious Ritual And Funerary

Period

Medieval (1066 to 1540)

Survival

Extant

Hectares

1.25

Civil Parish

Faversham

References

References