Derek Cox Art
- Glimpses into Faversham's Maritime Heritage -
Image: Derek Cox
Boats, Barges & Coastal Craft of Faversham
Faversham has a wealth of maritime heritage arising from its favourable location on a sheltered creek with access to the Swale, Thames estuary and the seas beyond. Its earlier prominence as a trading, commercial and manufacturing hub, and the wealth and prestige gained over the centuries, predominantly arose from maritime activities, with it's membership of the Confederation of Cinque Ports dating back to at least the 13th century.
This website provides glimpses into aspects of the maritime development of this historic town and sea Port. It is part of a wider project for a series of hardback books as well as the development of a website as a reference and educational resource. The aim is to document interesting aspects of the town's rich maritime heritage and of the more thann 3,000 vessels historically associated with Faversham.
Also here are examples of Derek's artwork help bring to life some of the lost and forgotten stories of some of these vessels.
Faversham has been a centre of commercial trade and industry for centuries. It's maritime and related activities created considerable wealth and prestigue for this ancient town in north Kent.
It's proximity to the Swale and Thames estuart, and it's rich agricultural surroundings have provided plentiful supplies of cereals, root crops, hops, fruit and wool for export to London and beyond. The warm waters of the East Swale have provided abundant supplies of oysters for local consumption and export to Europe. Faversham has been a prominent industrial centre for producing gunpowder and explosives, bricks, cement, brewing, and ship building. The ship builders James Pollock and Sons built over 1,100 steel vessels during the 1900s, launching them sideways into the Creek. There is a great deal to reveal about Faversham's maritime heritage and the way it has shaped the town over many centuries.
​
Today, the historic market town of Faversham still retains its status as a Cinque Port limb; it remains an official Port and vessels are still registered here. Whilst the creek is now silted up and commercial trade has ceased, there is little evidence of it's industries. Nonetheless, Thames barges, sailing smacks, fishing boats can still be admired moored along the creek. With it's historical origins and nearly 500 listed buildings, and with it's setting on the edge of windswept marshes, nature reserves, woodlands and country parks, Faversham has much to offer everyone ... especially artists.