Canterbury – Kent Filled With History
For those of you that appreciate a perfect combination of coast and countryside as well as a variety of things to do then Canterbury – Kent is the place to visit. Canterbury will inspire any visitor as one will just fall head over heels when you see the majestic countryside as well as take a walk back into the historical past and visit the heritage museums and castle sites.
Canterbury has been occupied dating back to prehistoric times where archaeologists have found Palaeolithic and Neolithic axes as well as Bronze Age pots. Canterbury was also the main settlement for the Celtic tribes. The Roman then took occupation during the first century AD and rebuilt the city.
In 597 St Augustine founded and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas Becket’s was also murdered at the Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 and thereafter the cathedral became a place of pilgrimage for Christians globally hence the Canterbury Tales.
Visitors can still view many of the historical sites which date back to the fourteenth century such as the ruins of St Augustine’s Abby and one of the oldest schools in England which is The King’s School as well as the Norman Castle. For those historians Canterbury is the place to visit.
In 410 AD the Romans departed and the city was taken over by the Anglo Saxons dating around 842 and 851 and then the Danish raided Canterbury Kent leaving many people dead and in the year 991 they raided again and this time they burnt the Cathedral down. In 1066 William the Conqueror invaded Canterbury and alongside the Roman city wall he delegated a mote and bailey castle to be erected.
Many of the latter day saints are associated with Canterbury such as St Mellitus, St Anselm, St Augustine and St Alphege and many more. The Black Death wiped out almost the entire population which at that time was the tenth largest in England. The famous cathedral which took 400 hundred years to complete houses the body of Henry IV who was buried there in 1413. This beautiful city has survived many wars.
The city of Canterbury still has many timber framed housed which date back to sixteenth and seventeenth century as well as the Old Weavers House and one can view St Martin’s Mill which has been converted into a house. There is also the best shopping opportunities as Canterbury has exceptional shops. The night life is tremendous as Canterbury – Kent livens up and one can relax and enjoy the wonderful food as well as pubs and bars.
For accommodation in Canterbury check this list of Canterbury hotels.
categories: travel,travel and leisure
Tags: Travel, travel and leisure