Canterbury & South England Tourist Guide

Kent’s lesser-known cliffside gardens that are like a 'Mediterranean paradise' The gardens have a fascinating story that spreads back over 100 years

An 'Elysium in Miniature' is how the newly created Dane John Gardens was described in 1790, when alderman John Simmons funded from his own fortune the first 'Public Walks' in Canterbury. An avenue of poplars, later replaced by limes, links two city gates and passes by the Ancient Monument the Dane John Mound which dates from before Roman times. What history there is in this space! Burials, executions, plague isolation, military drill and promenading gentry will all be featuring in the walk I am leading on behalf of Kent Garden Trust https://www.kentgardenstrust.org.uk/ for the Canterbury Festival 'Step into Spring' season this Sunday 2nd April2023. Get in touch if your group would like a similar in-depth walk or talk on a park or garden space in SE England.

Canterbury 200 years ago: It was written that in the first half of the 19th Century, Canterbury’s St Augustine’s Abbey “reached its lowest point of degradation” - both physically and morally. And then on 16th October 1822 the ‘tower known as Ethelbert’s Tower…amounting in weight to many hundred tons, and nearly 70 feet in height, fell with most tremendous crash, cracking, with the shock…’
1822: the railway had not yet arrived, but the townscape had been changing – the High Street widened, new public walks and prison, hospital and markets, all precursors to the Victorian era to come.
Step back in time exactly 200 years to discover what a visitor to Canterbury would have seen: not a time for Medieval pilgrims nor Victorian industry but earnest effort towards improvement after the Napoleonic Wars. https://canterburyfestival.co.uk/whats-on/canterbury-1822/
Picture shows Ethelberts Tower 1812.

Something a bit further afield than just Kent (following my personal interest in garden history and the development of tourism): a series of Zoom lectures on the Landscape of Spas in Britain. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/british-spa-landscapes-tickets-397407405247 Some interesting ideas on just how important parks and gardens have always been to our enjoyment and well-being. You might be surprised that even Canterbury had a spa that was visited by that intrepid traveller Celia Fiennes in 1697 and drinking the water, but 'only tasting halfe a glass of it which I did not like'. Later in the 19th Century the chalybeate (iron-rich) water was offered to visitors to 'Mr Master's Exotic Nursery' next to the River Stour. Unfortunately they 'paved Paradise and put up a parking lot' - it's all buried under Pound Lane Car Park!

British Spa Landscapes A series of 5 online talks on Tues @ 10.00 from 20th Sep exploring spa parks and gardens in Britain. £5 each or all 5 for £20.

Not the usual view tourists get of the Buttermarket in Canterbury! This is the bustling place outside of the grand Christchurch Gate https://www.canterbury-archaeology.org.uk/www.canterbury-archaeology.org.uk/ccgate/4590809464.html, which is the main entrance to the Cathedral precincts. The bird's eye view comes from a visit high on the scaffolding which currently covers the historic monument undergoing repairs - and what a treat it was to stand so close to inspect the beautiful stone carving in detail. The Buttermarket will be transformed when - eventually - the restoration is revealed, with newly painted figures in bright colours. But will the 'Welcoming Christ' be back to greet us?

At the Medieval Pageant in Canterbury today: Meet my friend Thomas Becket! He was always larger than life- for more details see for example https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Thomas-Becket/ or take part in a guided walking tour of Canterbury where you can learn the gruesome details of the murder in the cathedral.

This year's Medieval Pageant in Canterbury next Saturday 2nd July 2022 promises to be the best yet with events going on all over the town celebrating the pilgrimage heritage of the town. Check it out and come if you can!
https://www.canterburybid.co.uk/canterbury-medieval-pageant/?dm_i=YM4%2C7WX0W%2CW3PEOG%2CWC2O0%2C1