A Timeline of the history of Hales Place

• 1776-78 House built. ‘A new sumptuous edifice on a more eligible site.’ ‘More fit for a monarch than a simple country gentleman.’ [A New Topographical, Historical and Commercial Survey of Kent 1776.]
• 1776 Chapel referred to as dovecote and as a belvedere.
• 1791 the mansion chapel became the first place for Roman Catholic public worship in Kent since the Reformation.
• 1829 Sir Edward Hales, Bart. died with no issue. The estate comprised 4000 acres, the mansion was 400 feet long. Boundary was Longmeadow Way, back of Hawes Close, rear of Downs Road and St Stephen’s Hill.
• 1830 Hales Place with swans in foreground painted by J M Baynes and engraved by H Wallis.
• 1837 Mary Barbara Felicity Hales, born 1835, inherits from her father who took the name of Hales.
• In 1855, a white marble altar was installed by Edward Welby Pugin into the main house chapel and the coloured marble altar was probably moved at that time to the little chapel.
• 1850s Chapel frontage changed, presumably by MBF to create ‘la petite chapelle rustique.’
• 1864 Extension and beautification of the house chapel. Beginning of work on a Carmelite nunnery, later to become a Benedictine House.
• 1876 Artist’s impression of St Benedict’s Abbey in the Building News.
• 1880 MBF bankrupt.
• 1880 Estate sold to the Jesuit order. St Mary’s College established with 260 boys. Two new wings added to the mansion.
• 1881 Complaints that the boys were walking three abreast on the pavements.
• 1884 First burial at the chapel.
• 1888 Sacred Heart Monument on the green on The Terrace.
• 1889 House leased to a community of nuns.
• 1901 Jesuit Theological College. Theillard du Chardin attended.
• 1914 Partly occupied by the military as a hospital.
• 1924 Jesuits return to France.
• 1928 Sold to Arthur Dagnell. Dynamited the walls. Sale of fixtures and fittings. Mr Dagnell arranged the removal and re-burial of Sir Edward, 5th Baronet Hales, the Dowager Lady Hales and MBF Hales. The chapel became the property of St Thomas’ Church.
• 1973 Listed building status.
• 1974 Inspection and listing of damage.
• 1976 Appeal launched.
• 1980 David Cousins writes that he ‘hopes restoration will begin soon.’
• 1984 The chapel becomes the property of Canterbury City Council. Complete renovations led by Anthony Swaine with Christopher Buckingham and a Friends of Hales Place Chapel group.
• 1990s Friends group dissolved.
• 2025 CCC designate the chapel a community asset after an application by St Stephen’s Residents’ Association.
• 2026 A grant from Canterbury City Council. Chapel lantern weatherproofed and area around the chapel cleared. A new Friends of Hales Place Chapel is established.