Page 4 - Caxtons Student Guide 2017/18

History of Canterbury
Canterbury is a city of great contrasts with an extensive history embedded in its medieval and surrounding streets and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, yet is a visitor destination for its outstanding shopping and attractions. Located in the heart of Kent known as the Garden of England, Canterbury has been attracting pilgrims and visitors alike for hundreds of years.
With its charming cobbled streets, winding river, historic buildings and hidden treasures around every corner you would be forgiven for thinking
that the city was firmly rooted in its past. In reality, Canterbury is the perfect mix of
modern metropolitan and historical delights. Wherever you go in this
amazing city, there is something for everyone.
Located in a natural valley, Canterbury has grown around the meandering River Stour,- an ideal route along which to explore the area.
An overused used saying that “the history of Canterbury is indeed the history of England”, can be seen at every turn.
The city has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by a number of Lower Palaeolithic axes and Neolithic and Bronze Age pots found in the area. When the Romans invaded, they captured the city and renamed it Durovernum Cantiacorum. Then, it was a bustling hub of activity, with five roads built between other neighbouring coastal settlements providing easy trade routes. In the early 5th century, the Romans left Britain and the city was probably abandoned.
King Ethelbert ruled the Kingdom of Kent from 561AD. He was to become the last pagan King of Kent, but during his reign his influence spread through much of England. In 597 AD, Pope Gregory the Great sent St Augustine to convert
Ethelbert to Christianity. St Augustine arrived in the city and established an abbey and
cathedral. He would later become the first Archbishop of Canterbury.