1 week Ago By [email protected] (Brad Harper)
Hundreds of residents oppose “namby-pamby” plans to name a path after a forgotten queen amid a council’s push for diversity. Faversham’s Liberal Democrat-run town council has been accused of “historical vandalism” following proposals to name a section of footway after the wife of medieval English monarch King Stephen. Campaigners argue the path running alongside Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School between St Mary’s Church and Abbey Place is known as the Shooting Meadows.
But the town council, whom recently tabled the official name change bid to Swale Borough Council (SBC), asserts it has never been formally named as such. Furthermore, it is understood SBC has advised the town council the name Shooting Meadows would be prohibited, for fear it could be “misconstrued”. Campaigners have labelled the move “absolutely nuts”, while the walkway outside the Abbey Physic Community Garden is now set to be called Queen Matilda’s Place.
Almost 800 furious residents have signed Faversham Society’s petition against the new name to “stand together to oppose in defence of our history”, while the borough council is yet to make an official decision. Speaking to KentOnline, the group’s chair Ann Furedi explained she was “desperately trying” to avoid using the word ‘woke’ to describe the proposals. But she said: “It is all part of a namby-pamby style of politics.
“Ordinary people of Faversham are ruffled by it.” During the medieval period, men practiced archery every Sunday morning in the fields, now known as the Shooting Meadows, where the original Queen Elizabeth Grammar School – now a masonic hall – is based. Local historians say it was English law from 1252, whereby all men between the ages of 15 and 60 were required to practice, and in 1363, it became obligatory to train with longbows.
Mrs Furedi said: “We took the view it was historical vandalism to simply change the name of the path. “We were pretty appalled there had been no consultation, the council had decided it would do this and pressed on with it without anyone knowing.” Another path running along the school between Abbey Place and Gordon Square will be named The Shuts – a nod to the local pronunciation of The Shoots, an abbreviation of Shooting Meadows.
Mrs Furedi says the Faversham Society does not have an issue with this new title as it pays homage to local history, but doubled down on her opposition to Queen Matilda’s Place. “I think it is bonkers and absolutely nuts,” she said. “The argument is ‘shooting’ could be misinterpreted as an incitement of violence.
“Does it mean a netball team can no longer have a goal shooter, or footballers can’t have a penalty shootout?” Liberal Democrat town councillor Charles Gibson says the town council’s naming responsibility means it maintains a list of local heritage names it would like to be used on paths and new streets. “In recent years, we have made a specific effort to make this list more diverse as there are currently more roads named after apples than women,” he said. “However, what developers choose to use is not up to us.
“We have started naming paths because it has recently become clear Kent County Council is more inclined to repair paths with names, and frankly, a number of our footpaths are absolutely crying out for repair.” The Abbey ward councillor added the authority is “not renaming anything” as the “path does not have any official name”. Cllr Gibson is now working with local organisations to arrange information boards to celebrate the area’s historical significance.
Official records show King Stephen and Queen Matilda founded Faversham Abbey in 1148. It was also the burial place of the couple and their eldest son, Eustace IV of Boulogne. Their bones were reportedly thrown into the nearby Creek when the abbey was demolished.
In 1964, their empty tombs were unearthed, and it is said their bones were reinterred in the nearby parish church. Public notices about the changes are set to be issued, with SBC expected to make a formal decision later this year. SBC has been contacted for comment.
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