The Maison Dieu And The Hospital Of St Mary, Ospringe Faversham

The Maison Dieu And The Hospital Of St Mary - Faversham

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The Maison Dieu And The Hospital Of St Mary - Faversham

The Maison Dieu is one of the treasures of Faversham. It is the village museum of Ospringe, and the building dates from approximately 1234. While the fabric is maintained by English Heritage, the museum itself is staffed entirely by volunteers – and funds from admission, sale of goods, fundraising activities and grants are used to maintain the displays and fittings.

The museum was opened in 1925 and is reputedly one of the oldest village museums in the country – if not the oldest!

The beautiful half-timbered and flint building is one of two surviving from a medieval monastic hospital at Ospringe, which offered care to the old and ill and hospitality to travellers – including pilgrims travelling to and from Canterbury. Geoffrey Chaucer passed through Ospringe on his pilgrimage from London to Canterbury Cathedral and may well have broken his journey at the Maison Dieu. The hospital complex also contained royal apartments where many kings and queens stayed during journeys to Canterbury or the channel ports. Edward I was at the hospital in 1274 and 1299 and Henry VI stayed several times between 1439 and 1451.

The collections within the museum are wide ranging and include artefacts from the medieval hospital and finds from local archaeological excavations – in particular from a local Roman burial site.

The Maison Dieu is open 2pm - 5pm Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from Good Friday to the end of October. Group visits by appointment at other times – please contact Ann Wilkinson 01795-532755.

Open:

• 2pm to 5pm - Saturdays and Sundays, Bank Holidays - from Easter Bank Holiday to the end of October

Admission Fee:

• Members of English Heritage - Free
• The Faversham Society and to children accompanied by an adult - Free
• Adults - £2
• Concessions - £1

Address:

• The Maison Dieu is situated on the A2 at Ospringe, about 1/2 mile south west of Faversham town.

Contact:

• For group bookings please call 01795 532755

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