Canterbury
The Roman settlement of Durovernum Cantiacorum occupied the location of an earlier British town whose ancient name has been reconstructed as Durouernon, meaning stronghold by the alder grove. Archaeological evidence shows that Lower Paleolithic axes and Neolithic pots have been found in the area, indicating human presence since prehistoric times. In the 1st century AD, the Romans captured the settlement and named it Durovernum Cantiacorum after the local Celtic tribe known as the Cantiaci. The Romans rebuilt the city with new streets laid out in a grid pattern, constructing a theatre, temple, forum, and public baths. Although they did not maintain a major military garrison, its position on Watling Street relative to the major Kentish ports gave it considerable strategic importance. In the late 3rd century, to defend against attack from barbarians, the Romans built an earth bank around the city and a wall with seven gates which enclosed an area of about 60 hectares.
In 597, Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine to convert King Aethelberht to Christianity, establishing Canterbury as the center for his episcopal see in Kent. An abbey and cathedral were built, making Augustine the first Archbishop of Canterbury. After the murder of the Archbishop Thomas Becket at the cathedral in 1170, Canterbury became one of the most notable towns in Europe as pilgrims from all parts of Christendom came to visit his shrine. This pilgrimage provided the framework for Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century collection of stories called The Canterbury Tales. The cathedral received a million visitors annually and was one of the most visited places in the country during medieval times. Services are held three or more times a day throughout the year. Cardinal Wolsey visited in June 1518 and was given a present of fruit, nuts, and marchpane by the cathedral authorities. During the Dissolution of the Monasteries, St Augustine's Abbey, the 14th richest in England at the time, was surrendered to the Crown and its church and cloister were levelled.
In the mid-16th century many Huguenots experiencing persecution and conflict in the Low Countries fled and resettled in Reformed regions such as England. Canterbury hosted the first congregation of so-called refugee strangers in the country with a church founded around 1548. Jan Utenhove relocated from Strasbourg alongside Valereand Poullain and Francois de la Riviere to establish this community. When Utenhove travelled to London in 1549, Francois de la Riviere remained to lead the congregation. After the accession of Elizabeth I, a small number of Huguenots returned to London including Jan Utenhove in 1559. In 1575, a settlement in Sandwich almost entirely relocated to Canterbury which had gained a small Huguenot population the previous year. By the 17th century, French-speaking Huguenots comprised two-fifths of Canterbury's population. The Huguenots introduced silk weaving into the city which had outstripped wool weaving by 1676. A number of refugees also arrived around this time from temporary settlements at Rye and Winchelsea.
The pioneering Canterbury & Whitstable Railway known locally as the Crab and Winkle line ran from the 3rd of May 1830 to 1953 and was the first regular passenger steam railway in the world. It bankrupted by 1844 and was purchased by the South Eastern Railway which connected the city to its larger network in 1846. Between 1830 and 1900, the city's population grew from 15,000 to 24,000. The biggest expansion of the city occurred in the 1960s with the arrival of the University of Kent at Canterbury and Christ Church College. Canterbury hosts some 31,000 students and has the highest student to permanent resident ratio in the UK. They attend three universities including the University of Kent whose main campus extends to about 130 hectares on Saint Stephen's Hill a mile north of Canterbury city centre. In 2014 it enrolled around 20,000 students while Canterbury Christ Church University had around 30,000 students in 2024.
During the Second World War, 10,445 bombs dropped during 135 separate raids destroyed 731 homes and 296 other buildings in the city including the missionary college and Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School. One hundred nineteen civilian people died through enemy action in the borough. The most devastating raid was on the 1st of June 1942 during the Baedeker Blitz. Before the end of the war, architect Charles Holden drew up plans to redevelop the city centre but locals were so opposed that the Citizens Defence Association was formed which swept to power in the 1945 municipal elections. Rebuilding of the city centre eventually began 10 years after the war. A ring road was constructed in stages outside the city walls to alleviate growing traffic problems in the city centre which was later pedestrianised. Between 1999 and 2005, the Whitefriars Shopping Centre underwent major redevelopment with a major archaeological project undertaken by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust known as the Big Dig supported by Channel Four's Time Team.
Canterbury is a popular tourist destination with the city's economy heavily reliant upon tourism alongside higher education and retail. As of 2011, the city's population was over 55,000 including a substantial number of students and one of the highest student-to-permanent-resident ratios in Britain. In 2015, the value of tourism to the city of Canterbury was over £450 million with 7.2 million people visiting that year making it one of the most-visited cities in England. A full 9,378 jobs were supported by tourism an increase of 6% over the previous year. The two universities provided an even greater benefit with the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University worth £909m to the city's economy accounting for 16% of all jobs in 2014/2015. The 1980s saw visits from Queen Elizabeth II and the beginning of the annual Canterbury Festival which takes place over two weeks in October including musical events ranging from opera and symphony concerts to world music jazz and folk.
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Common questions
What was the ancient name of the Roman settlement that became Canterbury?
The ancient British town whose location is now occupied by Canterbury was reconstructed as Durouernon, meaning stronghold by the alder grove. The Romans captured this settlement in the 1st century AD and renamed it Durovernum Cantiacorum after the local Celtic tribe known as the Cantiaci.
When did Pope Gregory the Great send Augustine to convert King Aethelberht to Christianity?
Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine to convert King Aethelberht to Christianity in 597. This mission established Canterbury as the center for his episcopal see in Kent and made Augustine the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
How many Huguenots comprised the population of Canterbury during the 17th century?
By the 17th century, French-speaking Huguenots comprised two-fifths of Canterbury's population. These refugees introduced silk weaving into the city which had outstripped wool weaving by 1676.
On what date did the most devastating raid occur on Canterbury during the Second World War?
The most devastating raid occurred on the 1st of June 1942 during the Baedeker Blitz. During 135 separate raids, 10,445 bombs destroyed 731 homes and 296 other buildings in the city including the missionary college and Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School.
What was the value of tourism to the city of Canterbury in 2015?
In 2015, the value of tourism to the city of Canterbury was over £450 million with 7.2 million people visiting that year making it one of the most-visited cities in England. A full 9,378 jobs were supported by tourism an increase of 6% over the previous year.