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A brief history of Canterbury
Canterbury is a city with a long and influential past that has had a profound impact on England and the course of English, and world history.
Situated in Kent - the Garden of England - Canterbury has been attracting pilgrims and visitors alike for centuries.
With its charming cobbled streets, Roman built canals and winding river, historic buildings and hidden treasures around every corner, you could be forgiven for thinking that the city was firmly rooted in its past. In reality, a bustling metropolitan population, a mixture of independent and branded shops and a number of
exciting days out means that Canterbury has the perfect mix of modern and classic delights.
Wherever you go in this amazing city, there is something for everyone.
Canterbury is positioned in a valley, formed around the winding River Stour, which
meanders
through the heart of the city, and is an ideal way for visitors to explore.
Historians have said “the history of Canterbury is indeed the history of England”, and when looking back over time, it is easy to see why.
The city has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by a number of Lower Paleolithic axes and Neolithic and Bronze Age pots found in the area. When the Romans invaded Britain, 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.
The Romans probably abandoned the city in the early 5th century when they left Britain, which was soon populated by a growing Anglo-Saxon community - who renamed the city, Cantwarabyrig, meaning ‘The city of the men of Kent.’
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