Canterbury pub index
Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Canterbury, Kent .
CANTERBURY. A City and Count of itself,and the chief
city of Kent, is delightfully situated on the river Stour. It is distant
from London 84 miles by railway, and 55 by road, 16 miles by road from
Dover, 20 from Margate, 16 from Ramsgate, and 14 from Ashford. The
population of Canterbury, including the suburbs, is 21,541 by the last
census [1851]. The parishes within the city are a union, under a Local Act
for the Relief of the Poor, but are exempt from the provisions of the new
Poor Law Act as regards the election of its guardians, who are returned by
the ratepayers. The city returns two members to Parliament; Sir W. M.
Somerville, and H. B. Johnstone, Esqrs. are the present members. The
Corporation consists of a Mayor, Sheriff, 6 Aldermen, and 18 Councillors;
there are also 8 magistrates, and Quarter Sessions are held before the
Recorder; there is also a County Court, and Ecclesiastical Court.
Canterbury is the See of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Primate of the
English Empire and Metropolitan Patriarch of the English Church - a
functionary who holds the highest rank in the empire as a peer next to the
Royal Family, taking precedence of the dukes, and receiving the title of
Grace and Most Reverend Father in God. He is Archbishop for England and
Wales South of Trent, Bishop for East Kent, and presides over the colonial
churches. The Lord Primate holds extensive and ancient estates, which bring
a large revenue; and he has Ecclesiastical and Wills Courts, the chief of
which is the Prerogative Court, held in London. He presides over the Houses
of Convocation of bishops and procurators for the south of England. His
chief residence is in his palace at Lambeth.
Canterbury has held the dignity of an Archbishop's See since King Ethelbert
the Britwald introduced Christianity into this country, upwards of 12
centuries since. Many of these prelates have been venerated as saints,
including St. Augustine I., St. Alphage, St. Dunstan, St. Anslem, and St.
Thomas-a-Becket. The city is richly endowed with charitable benefactions,
which are now administered by trustees appointed by the Lord Chancellor. The
principal Market Day is on Saturday.
There are numerous fairs held in Canterbury, of which the chief are on May
the 4th and October the llth, the latter being a large fair, and statute
fair, and lasting a week. The population are principally employed in the
cultivation of hops in the neighbourhood, which hold a high reputation.
Canterbury was evidently a British town from its Romanized name of
Durovernum, and may even have been of Iberian origin. In Julius Caesar's
time it was held by the Belgae. Of the Romans there are remains in St
Maartin's Church, and the burial ground was bnear St Sepulchre's. It was
also a great Roman city, and being captured by Hengist and the English,
Frisians and Jutes, was named Cantwarabyrig, the Kentishmen's borough, now
formed into Canterbury. It was besieged and sacked by the Danes more than
once; but for the last 800 years has suffered few vicissitudes, except those
of trade. During the middle ages it profited very much by the pilgrims from
all parts of England and Europe to the shrine of St. Thomas-a-Becket. It now
exists by its ancient foundations and its traffic as the capital of East
Kent, which its natural situation insures to it; and it is likewise a
military station. It receives many visitors. Boyle, the great Earl of Cork;
Linacre, who was physician to Henry VIII., founded the College of
Physicians, and wrote a celebrated Grammar; Sumner, the antiquary and abbot;
and Lord Tenterden, Lord Chief Justice, were natives of Canterbury.
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The Cathedral is the great ornament to the city, and the object of
attraction to visitors. It was founded on the palace in which Ethelbert,
Britwald and King of Kent, resided, when persuaded to become a Christian by
Bertha, his Queen, and St. Augustine, afterwards the first Archbishop of
Canterbury. The King, gave the palace to the saint, who converted it into a
cathedral and monastery, which, being dedicated to Christ, obtained the
title of Christchurch. It has therefore palatial honours, as well as those
due to the chief basilica in the country. It was subsequently to its
foundation much enlarged, but plundered by the Danes, and Archbishop Alphage
martyred. Archbishop Lanfranc, after the Norman accession, repaired the
cathedral, and rebuilt it on a magnificent scale. In the reigns of Henry I.
and II. it suffered from fire. Part of the crypt or undercroft is supposed
to be part of Archbishop Lanfranc's building. On the 7th July, 1220, a new
shrine was erected for St. Thomas-a-Becket, who was massacred at the high
altar on December 29th, 1170. At subsequent periods the cathedral was
repaired
and greatly extended. Lately, considerable restorations in good taste have
been carried out. The cathedral is in the form of a double cross, with a
central tower and pinnacles rising to a height of 235 feet, and having two
west towers 130 feet high. The interior contains many relics of its ancient
splendour, and the tombs of the kings, princes, and prelates who have been
interred within its walls. Around the cathedral are numerous chapels, most
of which are interesting and deserving of attention. In the church are
interred St. Augustine, St. Anselm 1107, St. Alphage, St. Thomas-a-Becket,
King Henry IV. and Queen Joan of Navarre, Edward the Black Prince, Thomas
Duke of Clarence and his Duchess; Archbishops Theobald, Richards, Peckham,
Warham 1534, Courtnay 1396, Winchelsea (who was considered as a saint),
Reynolds, Walker, Kemp 1451, Stratford 1341, Sudbury 1381, Meophan,
Bradwarden 1389, Chicheley; Cardinal Coligny 1571, the Cardinal Archbishop
Langton, the Cardinal Archbishop Bourchier, Cardinal Archbishop Morton, the
Cardinal Archbishop Pole, the learned Casaubon, Orlando Gibbons, the
musician, died 1662; Sir John Buss, Colonel John Stuart, Doctor Chapman,
Prior, and Thomas Goldstone; Deans Rogers, Fotherbye Buss, Turner, Powys,
Bargrave, Oxenden, Hathbrand, Wotton, Bishop Waderburn, Archdeacon Bourchier
; John Beaufort, Marquis of Dorset; Lady Mohun of Dunster, Admiral Sir
George Rooke, etc. The north cross aisle is the scene of St.
Thomas-a-Becket's martyrdom, where his altar first stood. Here, in 1299,
Edward I. was married to Queen Margaret. The great south window is a
patchwork of ancient glass, but magnificent. The chapel of the Holy Trinity
contains the tombs of the Kings and Princes. In the centre of the chapel
once stood the sumptuous shrine of St Thomas, enclosing his coffin of Gold;
eastward of this chapel is an elegant part of the edifice, called Becket's
Crown. Here is the patriarchal throne of grey marble, on which the Lord
Primate is enthroned. St Peter and St Paul's chapel contained the shrine of
St Anselm. St Andrew's Chapel contains the ancient charters, of which some
are before the Norman accession. In the north aisle are two fine painted
windows. The crypt is appropriated to the worship of the Walloons and French
Refugees, who were formerly numerous, but now nearly extinct. The
congregation is only about a score. Some French names are to be found in the
city - as Delahaye, De Lasaux, Duthoit, Dombrain, Lefevre, Pettit, Poiteven.
In the crypt no less than ten archbishops are buried. Here is St Thomas's
original tomb, where King Henry II came barefoot to do penance, and King
Louis VII of France (St Louis) watched a whole night. The dimensions of the
Cathedral are - nave, 178 feet long; Cathedral, from east to west inside,
514 feet long; choir, 180 feet long. The Cathedral precincts contain some
relics of antiquity, being the remains of the former Priory. The fine Gothic
gateway was built by Prior Godstone in 1517. The library contains some
valuable MSS and books; the MSS of Isaac Casaubon, William Sumner the
antiquary, and others; a collection of Greek and Roman coins, and an
extensive collection of Bibles. In the Green Court is the Deanery, formerly
the Priory, and containing portraits of the Deans of Canterbury. The Sermon
House, or Chapter House, 82 feet long, 37 broad and 54 high, is curious.
Here, King Henry II was flogged by the monks in penance for the murder of St
Thomas. In the precincts is a Grammar School for two masters and fifty
scholars, founded by Henry VIII.
The precinct o the Cathedral, called Christchurch Precinct, is under the
jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter, and is in Blean Union. The Dean of the
Canterbury is well endowed. The Dean and Chapter have extensive patronage,
and their own courts.
All Saints' Church has been rebuilt; St. Mary and St. Mildred are united
with it, and form a rectory, valued at £117 per ann. in the gift of the Lord
Chancellor. St. Dunstan's Church is an ancient building. The Roper chancel
has several tombs, and here was at one time exhibited the skull of Sir
Thomas More, Lord Chancellor, which was interred here after his
decapitation. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued P.R. £107 per
annum in the gift of the Archbishop. St. Alphage's parish is united with St.
Mary's Northgate; the living, a rectory and vicarage, is valued P.R. at £189
per annum, in the gift of the Archbishop. St. Andrew's and St. Mary's
Bredman, High street, form now one parish; the living is valued P.R. £224
per annum, the Archbishop having the patronage twice out of thrice, and the
Dean and Chapter once. The church was rebuilt in 1764. St. Peters and Holy
Cross are now united; the living is a rectory and vicarage, valued £161, in
the gift of the Dean and Chapter and Archbishop alternately. St. George and
St. Mary Magdalen are united; the living is a rectory, valued P.R. £150 per
annum, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter. St. Margaret's is another parish
; the living is a curacy, valued P.R. £87, and in the gift of the
Archdeacon. On St. Martin's Hill stands the parish church, which is
remarkable for being the most ancient Christian church in England, and for
its having been the first place of worship used by St Augustine when sent
over by Pope Gregory to preach Christianity. It was here also Bertha, the
Gueen of Ethelbert, performed her devotion. It has undergone a thorough
repair, regard having been paid to the preservation of its antiquities as
far as was possible. It is supposed to have been first built about A.D. 187.
The chancel walls are almost entirely of Roman bricks. According to
tradition, Queen Bertha was buried here. The living is a rectory;
presentation vested in the Archbishop and the Dean and Chapter alternately.
St Martin's and St Paul's are united; the living is a vicarage and rectory,
valued P.R. £300 per annum, and alternately in the gift of the Archbishop
and Dean and Chapter. St Mary Bredin is another parish; the living is valued
P.R. £140 per annum, and in the gift of Henry Lee Warner, Esq.
Many ancient ecclesiastical and charitable establishments are found in the
city, and many of modern date. Cogan's Hospital in St. Peter's-street, was
founded in 1199, and maintains six poor widows of clergymen. Within the
hospital are the remains of some walls of the Grey or Franciscan Friars.
King's Bridge, or East Bridge Hospital; in High-street, was founded by St.
Thomas-a-Becket. It has a hall and chapel, with a school for 20 boys, and
almshouses for 5 men and 5 women. It is under the patronage of the
Archbishop. An ancient gateway in St. George's-street is the last remains of
the convent of the White Augustine Friars. Maynard and Cotton's Hospital, in
Castle-street, is for aged men and women, under the patronage of the Mayor.
The City Bridewell, or City Workhouse, in Lamb-lane, was an hospital founded
by Archbishop Simon Langton, in 1240. The Mint, in Palace-street, once
belonged to the Knights Templars; it is a privileged extra-parochial place,
under the jurisdiction of the Board of Green Cloth. The Hospital of St.
John, and the remains of St. Gregory's Priory, are in Northgate-street; both
were founded by Archbishop Lanfranc in 1084. In the Chapel of St. John's is
some fine painted glass. Here are maintained a prior and 18 brothers and
sisters, nominated by the Archbishop; they form a precinct. Boys' Hospital,
founded by Sir John Boys, in 1595, is also in Nortbgate-street; it is for
maintaining 8 men, 4 women, and 1 warden, and for educating 20 poor boys.
The Kent and Canterbury Hospital is in Longport, and was finished in 1793.
St.
Augustine's Abbey stood in Longport. It was founded by King Ethelbert, in
597, and many Kings and Archbishops were buried in it. It was richly
endowed, holding 12,000 acres of land, and, at the Dissolution, its revenues
were £1,431 4s. ll 1/2d. Two handsome gateways are still remaining. This
Abbey has been rebuilt as a Missionary College, at a very large expense,
chiefly contributed by Alexander Beresford Hope, Esq., M.P. In this palace
Queen Elizabeth kept her court for some days, and Charles I. was married to
Queen Henrietta Maria. In the churchyard are the remains of the chapel of
St. Pancras, said to have been built before the time of King Ethelbert I. Of
the Archbishop's sumptuous palaoe in Palace-street, only the wall and an
archway remain, and the Archbishops have been long non-resident. This too
forms a precinct. Many of the ancient ecclesiastical establishments still
form distinct precincts—as, the Cathedral, Castle, Palace, Grey Friars,
Knights Templars or Mint, Black Friars or Dominicans, White Friars or
Augustine Friars; the Monastic Hospitals, St. Augustine's or Benedictines,
the Black Prince's Chantry, and St. Gregory's Priory.
Here are a Jews' synagogue, Roman Catholic church, Unitarian, Independent,
Baptist, Wesleyan, Lady Huntingdon's and Friends'.meeting-houses. The
Guildhall or Courthall, in High-street, contains some portraits and some old
arms. The Public Assembly Rooms are attached to the Globe Tavern and
Guildhall Tavern. The Gas and Water Companies occupy the site of the Castle,
of which few relics remain. Canterbury is a considerable military station.
The Royal Cavalry Barracks, on the Margate-road, is a fine brick building,
forming three sides of a square; they were built in 1794. The Old Infantry
Barracks, for 2,000 men, are also on the Margate Road, and were built in
1798. They form a station for the horse and foot artillery. The New Barracks
were built in 1811, and provide accommodation for 99
Officers, 1,841 non-commissioned officers and privates, and 481 horses. Here
are the head-quarters of the East Kent Militia. Anew Militia Barracks. is
now in course of erection. The Military Infirmary on the Margate-road,
behind the barracks, is a handsome edifice, and an ornament to the
neighbourhood. The philosophical Institute Museum was founded in 1826. The
Literary and cientific Institution has a library of 3,000 volumes. There is
a library in the Cathedral and another in the College. There are four
newspapers and a library and reading-room.
Besides the Missionary College, which has a professor of Oriental languages,
there is a King's Grammar School in the Cathedral, a Church of England
Commercial School, and many Primary Schools. The Theatre is in
Orange-street. The buildings around this court were at one time inhabited by
the famous Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas More. There is a Catch and Glee Club
held in Canterbury, which justly ranks as one of the best musical
entertainments of this description in the kingdom. The Cattle Market is
spacious, it is without George's-gate. The market is held on Saturday
weekly. The Corn and Hop Market-room is in St. George's-street; it is a
handsome building, with a stone front, and beneath is the Public Meat
Office. The Poultry Market is in Burgate-street. There is also a Fish
Market. The chief trading establishments are breweries, maltings, tanneries,
soap and candle works, brick-fields, whiting-works, lime-kilns, coach-lofts,
tobacco-pipe making, iron-foundries, organ-building, linen-weaving, worsted
manufactory, and ropework. The Dane John is an artificial mound, the
favourite walk of the citizens, overlooking the city, and with a fine view;
it has been much improved of late years; near it is the the Martyrs' Field,
where several persons were burnt in the time of Queen Mary I. St. Radigund's
Bath, without Northgate, is an ancient establishment, supposed to have been
Roman, and supplied by a natural spring. Westgate is the only one of the
city gates now remaining; it is built of squared stone, and the upper part
is used as a gaol for criminals and debtors. Over the Stour are several
bridges, and on the river are some ancient mills, by which the navigation is
impeded.
In the High-street, at the corner of Mercery-lane, is the site of the
Chequers Inn, mentioned by Chaucer in his "Canterbury Tales," as being
frequented by the pilgrims of his time. A great portion of the building is
in the occupation of Mr. G. Wood, draper.
The Kent and Canterbury Hospital is situated in Longport, on part of the
grounds formerly belonging to the Monastery of St. Augustine. The County
Gaol and Sessions House is an extensive building, situated in the direction
of St. Martin's Church. The Sessions House is a neat erection of the Doric
order, ornamented with the figures of Justice and Mercy over the entrance.
The Clergy Orphan College is situated on St. Thomas's Hill, about a mile
distant. It is a handsome edifice, and commands a fine view of Canterbury.