Graveney and Goodnestone Villages are found on a country road between Faversham and Whitstable near to the North Kent coast line. Surrounded by farm land to the South and East with marsh land to the North and West.
Yet it is these very marshes North of Graveney that have been bought through compulsory purchase that will now be developed for the construction of a major electricity sub-station to service London Array's wind farm in the Thames Estuary. Farmer's who once quoted "We have been entrusted to protect the countryside" have now placed their farm land up for sale. Graveney recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Gravenel" and information can be found at the The National Archives web site. Today, Graveney has few old houses as such with the majority having only been built with-in the past 50 years. Graveney may have been a much different village prior to the enforcement of the Enclosure Act which was carried out through-out England in two phases from the 15th century to the 19th century. This resulted in the common people being forced from their land and homes, making way for single land owners. These people then had no option but to leave the area and seek an alternative life else where.
These two villages minus their repective village signs are so close to each other that they can now be mistakenly thought of as one. Yet each village has its own Church, with All Saints at Graveney holding regular Sunday services through-out the year. But as with everything there is a financial cost associated with the running and up-keep of All Saints and one that the Church Authority might not be able to maintain much longer.
 
Goodnestone and Graveney Churches.
The church of All Saints’, Graveney, like so many parish churches bears evidence of twelfth century origin. The chancel arch, a simple late Romanesque work of around 1160-1170 is contemporary with the existing chancel walling. This is composed of fieldstone and flint, occasionally brought to course but generally rough in conception, varying in thickness from 765 to 935mm.
This rural village that was once inhabited by it's workers and their families is now just a ghost of its past. Caused by farming modernisation and the over priced housing market making it impossible for families to remain. A story that bears similarities to the enclosure act mentioned above.
The result of this has been an influx of people who want the benefit of country living but with a large number not caring or taking part in village life itself. A recent evening event which was attended by 25 people included only 8 villagers!
On a positive note and after several years of village amenities disappearing one family has brought back not just the pub but now a new village store for 2009. Our thanks go out to them, and a request to locals and others alike to use it.
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March Newsletter
