Swale
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Swale from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Swale's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry. Skip this section and go to place by numbers
Former Military Hospital
Sheerness
A former military hospital. Work on the hospital commenced in June 1856 and it was opened in October 1857.
A World War II Chain Home Radar station at Dunkirk, 200m …
Dunkirk
The World War II Chain Home Radar station at Dunkirk is significant for its role in early radar development and air defense during the Battle of Britain.
Oare Windmill
Faversham
Oare Windmill is an early 19th-century red brick tower type with a tarred weatherboarded cap, although its sweeps and fantail are missing.
Radfield House and Railings to Forecourt
Tonge
Radfield House, a 16th-century timber-framed structure with 18th-century alterations, features decorative railings and distinctive architecture on London Road, Tonge.
World War II Heavy Anti-aircraft gunsite (TS2), 300m east…
Iwade
20th-century military sites like the WWII Heavy Anti-aircraft gunsite represent key historical episodes, with the Iwade site rare for its intact layout and development stages.
Frognal Farmhouse and Garden Wall
Teynham
Frognal Farmhouse, a Grade II* listed house, has a 16th-century origin and features early 18th-century additions. It served as a residence for Ralph Clerke and Sir Joseph Taylor.
Bexon Manor
Bredgar
Bexon Manor, a Grade II* listed manor house, dates back to the 15th century, with significant alterations in 1617, featuring timber framing and decorative plaster infill.
Murston Old Church, Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne
Murston Old Church, dating back to the 13th century, showcases Gothic design and retains archaeological elements despite partial demolition.
Delbridge House
Faversham
Delbridge House, also known as The Constitutional Club, is an 18th-century, three-storey building with distinctive architectural features, including Doric columns and lunette windows.
Church of St. Margaret of Antioch
Lower Halstow
The Church of St. Margaret of Antioch features Saxon origins, C12 aisles, a C13 tower, medieval graffiti, and notable restorations by architect W.D. Caröe in 1913.
Provender Mill
Faversham
Provender Mill, a 19th-century warehouse in a prominent position along Faversham Creek, features a yellow stock brick facade and distinctive architectural elements.
Belmont Park
Throwley
Belmont Park is an early 19th-century ornamental garden, expanded in the late 19th century, within an 18th and 19th-century estate. Historically linked to the Harris family.
20, West Street
Faversham
18th-century house on West Street, now split into two, features painted brick, intact glazing bars, and a distinctive round-headed doorway.
Dunkirk Radar Tower
Dunkirk
The Dunkirk Radar Tower, built in 1937, is a significant part of Britain's WWII air defense, notably during the Battle of Britain. It's among the best-preserved radar sites.
Oare gunpowder works
Faversham
The Oare gunpowder works in Faversham, an important historical site, illustrates extensive gunpowder production with significant surviving structures and technological advancements spanning...
96 and 97, West Street
Faversham
16th and 17th-century buildings with distinct architectural features, such as imitation masonry and mathematical tiles, form a group on West Street.
World War II Heavy Anti-aircraft gunsite (TS3) at Wetham …
Upchurch
The World War II Heavy Anti-aircraft gunsite (TS3) at Wetham Green is a rare, historically significant site with intact layout and elements, playing a key defensive role during the war.
Memorials to the victims of the 1916 Faversham Munitions …
Faversham
Memorial over the mass grave of the victims of the Faversham Munitions Explosion, 1916.
The Maison Dieu Museum
Faversham
The Maison Dieu Museum, a Grade II* listed building in Ospringe, dates back to 1230 as part of the medieval hospital, featuring medieval and early 16th-century architectural elements.
Church of the Beheading of St John the Baptist
Doddington
The Church of the Beheading of St John the Baptist in Doddington features 12th-century origins, expanded in the 13th and 15th centuries, with significant restorations and distinctive Gothic...
A Romano-British mausoleum, an associated Romano-British …
Norton, Buckland and Stone
The Romano-British mausoleum at Stone-by-Faversham, rare and significant, illustrates historical burial practices and site continuity through subsequent architectural phases over centuries.
The Holly Bank
Newington
The Holly Bank is an early 18th-century red brick house featuring Doric columns and a hipped roof with dormers, located on Church Lane in Newington.
Swanton Street Farmhouse
Bredgar
Swanton Street Farmhouse, built in 1719 for Edward Holliday, a London goldsmith, features a brown brick facade, pine-paneled rooms, and an original 18th-century staircase.
89 and 90, Preston Street
Faversham
89 and 90 Preston Street feature 18th-century fronts with timber-framed cores from the 17th century. Buildings are three stories high with modern shop fronts.
Church of All Saints
Iwade
The Church of All Saints, mostly 13th-14th century, features intriguing historical elements like medieval brasses and a south aisle built from a 1504 bequest.
31 and 33, High Street
Sittingbourne
31 and 33 High Street, Sittingbourne, are 18th-century, timber-framed buildings formerly part of the George Inn, featuring brick fronts and preserved historical elements.
Church of St Leonard
Badlesmere
The Church of St Leonard in Sheldwich Badlesmere has 18th-century box pews, a pulpit, and panels with historical emblems, including Sir Richard Badlesmere’s inscribed benches.
The Sun Inn
Faversham
The Sun Inn is a 15th-century timber-framed building, refronted with a first-floor overhang on modern brackets, featuring tiled roofs and sash windows with glazing bars intact.
35-39, High Street
Sittingbourne
Formerly part of the George Inn, this tall, timber-framed building was refronted with red brick in the 18th century, featuring a hipped tiled roof and Ionic columns.
Church of St Thomas the Apostle
Leysdown
The nave is C11 or early C12 in origin. The N aisle was added c.1200 and the chancel built or rebuilt around the same time. The S porch is also C13.
Bayfield House
Ospringe
Bayfield House, a 1613 timber-framed farmhouse in OSPRINGE, features Gothic windows, a jettied gable, and 19th-century additions, showcasing historical architectural elements.
Cooksditch
Faversham
Cooksditch is a prominent late 18th-century house with a central portion from 1774–90 and two projecting wings from 1790–98. It is distinguished by its Ionic architecture.
Chestnut Cottages
Upchurch
Chestnut Cottages, a 16th-century timber-framed house, features a jettied first floor and early 19th-century additions, highlighting its historical architecture in Upchurch.
Milestone
Newington
A 18th-century milestone on Newington High Street marks distances to Sittingbourne and London. It features stone and metal plaques.
94 and 95, West Street
Faversham
94 and 95, West Street is a 15th-century timber-framed building with 18th-century alterations, featuring a first-floor overhang, plastered front, and a tiled roof.
The Holme
Newington
The Holme is an early 19th-century painted brick house with a slate roof and distinctive architectural features, including sash windows and a central door with a fanlight.
Explore more
Search for more listed places in SwaleSwale through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Swale changes over time. Skip this section and go to aerial photos
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Swale
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground. Skip this section and go to archive images
Faversham
St Mary of Charity Church, Faversham, 1925
Faversham
The railway station and town, Faversham, 1950
Woodstock
Parkland at Home Farm, Woodstock, 1947
Woodstock
Home Farm, Woodstock, 1947
Sittingbourne
The town centre and railway station, Sittingbourne, 1925
Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne Railway Station and the town centre, Sittingbourne, 1930
Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne Paper Mill and environs, Sittingbourne, 1930
Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne Paper Mill and environs, Sittingbourne, 1930
Kemsley
Kemsley Paper Mill, Kemsley, 1930
Kemsley
Edward Lloyd Ltd Kemsley Paper Mill, Kemsley, 1936
Swale in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Swale's past. Skip this section and go to stories about heritage
Charles George Harper Collection
Swale, Kent
Date created: 1892 - 1933
People at work in a hop garden at Ospringe, with St Peter and St Paul's Church in the background
Eric de Mare
Swale, Kent
Date created: 1956
Stone Stile Oast viewed from the east with Stone Stile Farmhouse partially visible to far right of frame
John Gay Collection: Counties
Swale, Kent
Date created: Apr 1964
Branches of cherry blossom, with St Mary's Church, Newington, behind
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Perry Wood, Swale, Kent
Date created: 1900 - 1930
GENERAL VIEW SHOWING THE DRAWING ROOM, PERRY WOOD
Charles George Harper Collection
Swale, Kent
Date created: 1892 - 1933
Looking east along Key Street, with the Key Inn in the foreground
Eric de Mare
Swale, Kent
Date created: 1956
Exterior view of Eastlea Oast, a brick and weatherboard oast-house with kilns just visible behind
John Gay Collection: Counties
Swale, Kent
Date created: Apr 1964
View of St Mary's Church, Newington, showing sheep in the foreground grazing in a cherry orchard
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Swale, Kent
Date created: 1902 - 1907
GENERAL VIEW ALONG RECREATION GROUND AVENUE
Charles George Harper Collection
Swale, Kent
Date created: 1892 - 1933
A woman walking west along Church Lane past the Oast House, with St Mary's Church in the background, and the Devil's Stone in the foreground
Eric de Mare
Sheerness Docks, Sheerness, Swale, Kent
Date created: 1956
General view of the Quadrangle storehouse in the Sheerness Naval Dockyard.
John Gay Collection: Counties
Swale, Kent
Date created: 1965 - 1972
Queenborough Station platform, from the south-east
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Sheerness, Swale, Kent
Date created: 1915 - 1930
GENERAL VIEW WITH CHURCH TOWER VISIBLE IN BACKGROUND
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Swale. Skip this section and go to education
9 Places That Tell the Story of Early Flight
Mentions Memorial to 'The Home of Aviation'
The first sustained, powered, heavier-than-air flight in the UK signalled a new age of sky-high ambitions.
Where the Heart is: 5 Landmark LGBTQ+ Homes
Mentions Chantry House
Before 1967, homosexuality was illegal. The privacy of the home provided safety and security for many LGBTQ people.
Heritage at Risk in the South East Revealed
Mentions Former Royal Dockyard Church and Attached Wall and Railings
25 sites have been saved and 15 sites added to the Heritage at Risk Register 2023 in the South East of England.
More Than 2,500 Poignant War Memorials Listed During Four Year Project to Commemorate First World War Centenary
Mentions Memorials to the victims of the 1916 Faversham Munitions Explosion
Through the First World War Memorials programme, 2,645 First World War memorials have been listed, more than doubling the amount previously listed.
War Memorials to Airmen Listed to Mark Centenary of the Royal Air Force
Mentions Memorial to 'The Home of Aviation'
To mark the centenary of the RAF, 14 war memorials to airmen are being listed or upgraded by DCMS on the advice of Historic England.
Swale's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area. Skip this section and go to grant-aided places
The Masonic Hall, Abbey Place, Faversham, Kent
Period: Tudor (1485 - 1602)
It was originally the Free Grammar School, founded in 1527, built in 1587 and moved to another site in 1879.
The Masonic Hall, Abbey Place, Faversham, Kent
The Maison Dieu, Water Lane, Ospringe, Kent
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
This building is the main surviving building of the medieval Maison Dieu, founded in 1230, which was similar to a small monastery.
The Maison Dieu, Water Lane, Ospringe, Kent
The Maison Dieu, Water Lane, Ospringe, Kent
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
This building is the main surviving building of the medieval Maison Dieu, founded in 1230, which was similar to a small monastery.
The Maison Dieu, Water Lane, Ospringe, Kent
The Maison Dieu Museum, Water Lane, Ospringe, Kent
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
This building is the main surviving building of the medieval Maison Dieu, founded in 1230, which was similar to a small monastery.
The Maison Dieu Museum, Water Lane, Ospringe, Kent
The Court House, 110 High Street, Sittingbourne, Kent
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
This timber-framed building dating from around 1450 was the Mediaeval Court Hall of Milton. It had 2 prison cells beneath.
The Court House, 110 High Street, Sittingbourne, Kent
The Abbey Gatehouse, High Street, Sheerness, Kent
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
This gatehouse and the Abbey Church are the only remaining portions of the Minster Abbey built in the 13th century.
The Abbey Gatehouse, High Street, Sheerness, Kent
Shed No 78 Sheerness Docks, Sheerness, Kent
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
A former boat store and warehouse, now disused. It was built in 1856-60 for the Admiralty Works Department.
Shed No 78 Sheerness Docks, Sheerness, Kent
Odeon Cinema, High Street, Sittingbourne, Kent
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
Originally designed for the Abrahams chain, the cinema opened as an Odeon in 1937. Renamed the Vogue Cinema in the 1960s, it later became a bingo hall.
Odeon Cinema, High Street, Sittingbourne, Kent
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find local heritage in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary. Skip this section and go to related locations
Murston Old Church, Stadium Way, Sittingbourne
This church has a 12th-14th century Chancel, a surviving remnant of Murston's medieval parish church.
Sheerness Dockyard Church, Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Sheerness Dockyard Church is leased to Fruit Bowl Media Ltd (2023) which runs a business and incubation centre in the church under the name 'Island...
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