The Lost Features

The Lost Features. The Victorian era and early 20th Century. Faversham Recreation Ground has recently been refurbished by Swale Borough Council in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The lodge and sports pavilion have been restored, paths resurfaced, park railings and benches replaced, and trees, shrubs and wildflowers planted to bring new life to the avenues, woods and grassland. The history of the Rec has also been explored, including the stories of long-lost features that used to embellish the grounds., Drinking fountain , An elegant drinking fountain in the form of a young woman pouring water from an amphora into a bowl was donated by the Reverend G.J. Hilton in 1888 and erected near the lodge. The sculpture, which represented temperance, was damaged in 1950, and today all that remains is the red granite base inscribed with the name of the donor and date. This plinth has recently been provided with a stone cap and given a new use as a site to exhibit temporary artwork., Bandstand , In 1895, an ornamental bandstand was presented by Alderman H.R. Child, who was twice mayor of Faversham. It was situated in front of the lodge and was a venue for band performances, and at times also acted as a cricket pavilion and pulpit for religious services. However, despite its popularity, in December 1954 a public notice invited tenders for 'dismantling and clearing away of the superstructure'. In 2020 a new event space was created in this area., Tank , On 30 July 1919, crowds witnessed tank number 258 leaving the railway depot, clanking along the road and parking at the northwestern comer of the recreation ground, where it remained for many years, presented to Faversham in recognition of funds raised during the First World War. A heavy German gun was also situated nearby, though in 1937 both tank and gun were sold for £40 for scrap. In the following year a poem published in the local newspaper described 258 as "A rather grim ungainly creature, she formed an interesting feature".