Canterbury Cathedral

Today was our last day in Kent. We had only one stop today and that was Canterbury Cathedral. We attempted to visit the cathedral on Saturday but arrived after it closed for visitors. We just walked along the grounds outside. It was frustrating trying to get to the cathedral that day. We could see it but couldn't figure out how to get there. We had to pull over a number of times to try and orient ourselves.

Augustine was the first Bishop of Canterbury. He was given the church in 597 by King Ethelbert. Today we knew exactly where to go and got to Canterbury right after the cathedral opened. It was definitely worth the hastle and frustration of Saturday. For 2 pounds you are able to take pictures inside the cathedral. Inside the current cathedral the spot where Thomas Becket was killed in 1170. In Trinity Chapel, within the cathedral itself, there are a number of important items. A brass inscription and a burning candle mark the spot where the Shring of St Thomas was destroyed during the Reformation. Two of the more famous tombs within the cathedral are both in Trinity Chapel: the Black Prince, Edward Plantagenet, and King Henry IV & his wife.

The only place where pictures were not allowed was in the crypt. The crypt contains a number of small chapels and a few tombs. There was was tomb in the floor that is marked by only a small foot-high chain. It is supposed to contain the remains of one of the monks that was with Tomas Becket when we was murdered. However, without exhumation, that will never be known and even then...who knows.

Afterwards we walked around the pedestrian center of the town. Old stone streets and Tudor buildings gave Canterbury an amazing (yes, I've used that word alot) charm. We hated to leave and would have loved to spend more time there.

I was time to head back to Croughton...I had to go to work the next day.

This mini-vacation was great. We saw some great natural and man-made sights, got to experience history with all of our senses, and had fun doing it!