Celebrating hops

On the weekend of its annual Hop Festival, the streets of Faversham are thronged with people. Many are crowned with garlands of hops or bear buttonhole sprigs tucked into lapels. Morris men dance merrily, their sticks clacking, and music can be heard from a nearby stage. The festival is a celebration of the long history of hop cultivation, which was a thriving trade in the 16th century, though there is some evidence of hops being in the area from as early as 900AD. In 1741, enough hops were produced to export 2,680 bags to London. The festival recalls the celebrations associated with the hop harvest and this year takes place from 1-2 September.