The residential area known as Hales Place is part of the civil parish of Hackington, and lies to the north of the city of Canterbury in Kent, England. The residents include large numbers of students from the nearby University of Kent.

Crime The area suffers from crime coming from violent or sexual offences. For every 1’000 people, there is 129.6 crimes at a 14% increase. Compared to the surrounding areas of Canterbury, Hales Place is more crime-ridden compared to the surrounding areas in Canterbury.

History Hales Place is named after old mansion demolished in 1928. Building in the area itself dates to 1227, Simon, Archdeacon of Canterbury had a residence in Hackington built for his brother, Archbishop Stephen Langton. During its time, Two archbishops died residing: Thomas Arundel and William Warham. The Archdeacons estate fell to the ownership of the crown and granted to Sir Rodger Manwood in 1562. The old archdeacons residence was granted in a ruined state, and rather than extend or rebuild, Sir Rodger Manhood erected new second a mansion onto the estate.Sir Peter, son of Rodger Manhood, inherited the estate and live lavishly off it. Before Peter’s death in 1642, the estate was sold by his son Sir John to Thomas Colepeppe. In 1643, The name of the house appears in a unexecuted deed as St Stephen's House.

Due to legal expenses, Thomas sold the estate to Sir Edward Hales, 3rd Baronet of Woodchruch in 1675. The old manison stood until 1759. Edward Hales, 5th Baronet, grandson of Sir Edward Hales, 3rd Baronet of Woodchruch demolished the old building for a grander mansion for his successors. The mansion constructed was known as 'Hales Place.' He built the Roman Catholic Chapel known as Belvedere Chapel. Edward died of illness on 29 August 1802.The Sun (London). "Dead." 2 September 1802

The property fell to his son and last Baronet, Sir Edward Hales, 6th Baronet The grounds of Hales Place were used for the sports such as sport fox hunting in the 1820s.Star (London) - Thursday 19 December 1822 Hales Place was apart of fashionable arrivals in 1823, where noble European counts and lords toured.Sun (London) "Fashionable Arrivals" Friday 26 September 1823 However, Edward died with no heir in 15 March 1829. The estate fell to his nephew, Edward de Morlaincourt, who then changed his surname to Hales. He married Edmee Nicole Felicite Pulcherie de Sercey, daughter of a vice admiral.

They had only child Mary Barbara Felicite Hales, born 4 December 1835 in Boulogne, France. Edward died on 12 February 1837, leaving his daughter to inherit the property at the age of one. Mary and her mother resided in 4 Victoria Place in St. Dunstan's Ward. Mary later came back to France and to a Carmelite convent. The Roman Catholic Chapel was robbed in 1857, taken of a silver Chalice, two small silver and brass figures of Jesus Christ on the cross, silver cruets, and a handful of silver spoons.Caledonian Mercury - Monday 6 April 1857

In 1859, Mary Hales became a nun. She planned to turn Hales Place into a Carmelite nunnery. Her plans : a church, a convent, farmland and a enclosing brick wall. The architect for the project was Edward Welby Pugin. Work began in 1863, the building contract cost 34’340 pounds.Aberdeen Press and Journal - Wednesday 25 November 1863 In 1874, She gave a portion of her estate to Benedictine nuns in Ramsgate. The nuns would make an appeal for £50’000 to create an abbey, offering those who contribute getting their names ingrained in a stone slab. The estate was then brought in 1880 by exiled Jesuits. Hales Place was renamed Saint Mary’s Collage, two extensions added to expand the capacity of students to 1000 students. The wings consisted of a laboratory, a dining hall, chapel, exhibition halls, refectories and dormitories. In celebration of the top brick being placed, the 200 builders dined in the halls with the priests.

The Collage had a range of classes such as blacksmithing, plumbing and carpentry.Pope, Anne (1992) Living in St Stephen's 60-80 years ago The college was popular with the French nobility, who sent their sons there to learn away from political persecution in their home country. Amongst their students was Teilhard de Chardin, a famous paeleontologist and theologian. Nineteen members of the Jesuit collage and young student were buried in Belvedere Chapel. In 1899, many of the french Jesuits would leave, replaced later by the Sisters Of Notre Dame from London.

It would be maintained by the sisters until 1901, when Jesuits were exiled from france again. In 1927, the estate was auctioned off. The purchase would be finalised in 1928, the chapel striped bare and furniture further sold at auctions. Trees on the estate were sold off, with only those surrounding the chapel left. Deceased members of the Hales family were reburied at the chapel. Hales place be demolished in the same year. In 1953, the area was purchased by the Canterbury City Council for housing. The chapel has a grade II listing and is at the Tenterden Drive layby.

Demographics The demographics of the area has changed throughout the years. Due to the key location by the University of Kent, housing was brought out by Landlords and turned into HMO for university students. Long time homeowner and writer, Antony Price, made a statement to KentOnline in 2016 ‘Now it’s descended into hell. There is no community. Just rows of rental machines with selfish students who think it’s their God-given right to keep people awake.‘

Notable people Sir Edward Hales, 3rd Baronet

Frances Lee, Countess of Lichfield

Henri de Lubac

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