Milton Chantry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milton Chantry |
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Milton Chantry within New Tavern Park
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| OS grid reference | TQ 6525 7434 |
| Founded | 1322 |
| Built for | Aymer de Valence |
| Type | Grade II* |
| Designated | 23 January 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1089047 |
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Milton Chantry is an old chapel in Gravesend, Kent, England. Today, it's home to the Chantry Heritage Centre. This center shows off cool exhibits about Gravesend, Northfleet, and nearby villages. You can find it inside the Fort Gardens. It's also a special historic building, protected as a Grade II* listed building by English Heritage.
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The History of Milton Chantry
Milton Chantry is the oldest building in the area called the Borough of Gravesham. It's located in what used to be the parish of Milton. The chapel was built in 1322 by Aymer de Valence, who was the Earl of Pembroke.
What Was a Chantry Chapel?
A chantry chapel was a special place where priests would say prayers for the souls of people who had died. Rich people often built these chapels. They would also give land to the chapel. This land would earn money to pay a priest. The priest's job was to pray for the person who built the chapel and their family.
Milton Chantry is actually all that's left of a hospital. This hospital was called the Hospital of St. Mary the Virgin. It was a hospital for people with leprosy.
Changes Over the Centuries
Priests appointed by the Bishop of Rochester worked at Milton Chantry until about 1524. Then, King Henry VIII took control of it. This happened during his "reformation of the churches," known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
After that, the building changed a lot. It became a family home and a farm. By the late 1600s, it had turned into an inn and tavern. It was called the New Tavern.
From Tavern to Fort and Park
Between 1780 and 1918, a military fort was built around the chantry building. This fort was named New Tavern Fort. The old tavern building was changed to become part of the fort's barracks.
The New Tavern Fort was updated a lot between 1868 and 1871. This work was led by Charles George Gordon. The tavern and barracks were also fixed up in 1852 and 1862.
In 1932, the fort was turned into a park for the people of Gravesend. During World War II, the basement of the chantry chapel had a new use. It was made into a special room for gas decontamination.
After the war, the chapel became the local museum. It was named the Chantry Heritage Centre. Today, the Gravesend Local History Society takes care of it.
