FEVERSHAM, a town of the county of Kent in England, situated on a branch of the river Thames, which is navigable for boats. It was a royal demesne A. D. 811, and called in Kenulf's charter the King's little Town, though it is now a large one. It was inhabited by the Britons long before the invasion of Caesar. In 903, king Athelstan held a great council here. King Stephen erected a stately abbey, 1147, whose abbots sat in parliament; and he was buried in it, together with Maud his queen, and Eustace his son; but of this building two mean gate-houses are all that now remain. The town was first incorporated by the name of the Barons of Feversham, afterwards by Henry VIII. with the title of the mayor and commonalty, and lastly by that of the mayor and jurats and commonalty. It is a populous flourishing place, consisting chiefly of two long broad streets, with a market-house in the centre, built 1574. Its ancient church was rebuilt in 1754, at the expense of 2300l. but was originally built in Edward II.'s reign. There is a free grammar-school in the place, built and endowed by Queen Elizabeth in 1582; also two charity-schools. It is a member of the cinque port of Dover, and has a manufacture of gunpowder. The London markets are supplied from hence with abundance of apples and cherries, and the best oysters for stewing. These last are also fetched away in such quantities by the Dutch, that a prodigious number of men and boats are employed here in the winter to dredge for them; and
and it is said they carry home as many as amount to above 2000 l. a-year. The fishermen will admit none to take up their freedom but married men.