Milton Chantry , once part of a leper hospital is an interesting survival of an early religious foundation. Subsequent changes to the building make it a good

subject for building interpretation or for a historical study of the locality.

Historical Description

Until the nineteenth century Milton was a village quite separate from the port of Gravesend. Here in1321 Aymer da Valence founded a chantry chapel

which still survives today although in a much altered form. The chapel was attached to a leper hospital. The purpose of a chantry chapel was to say prayers for the souls of the dead. Priests were employed to say daily masses for the de Valence and Montechais families.  Such chapels were all dissolved during the Reformation.

Apart from the east gable, the outside of the building has been bricked over. The alterations to the inside are a challenge to the architectural detective. Remains of the fourteenth century roof can be seen. The building had a floor

and chimney stack inserted in the sixteenth century. The staircase with its decorated newel posts dates from the seventeenth century when the building

became a tavern.

The chapel now stands in a public park created in 1932 on the site of the New Tavern Fort, in use from 1780 to 1918. This fort took its name from the chapel alias the tavern which then became part of the barracks. The fort has fine views up the Thames and looks across to Tilbury Fort with which it was linked. The New Tavern Fort was extensively remodeled in 1868-1871 under the

direction of Captain Gordon later famous for his defense of Khartoum.

Today the building is promoted as the Chantry Heritage Centre, housing a fascinating insight into the history and heritage of Gravesend, Northfleet and the nearby villages.