Canterbury Cathedral and Old Walled City, Canterbury, England

It was nice to see that it was only a 15-minute drive from Regency villas to the Canterbury Cathedral.  We found a parking area near one of the gates of the old Roman-walled city.  The Romans originally had seven gates in the original wall around the City.  It is beautiful old crushed rock wall and you can see bricks up higher which would have been added later in the millennium.  We parked near Queningate.  These 7 gates and walls were built to defend the town between 270-90 AD.  It's unbelievable that they are still standing.

Some history for you to the left.

The parking was not cheap it was 3.50 pounds/hour. 

We walked the diameter of the walled city just to get the feel of being inside the wall and we walked to the first gate and then we made our way to the Cathedral.  There are many ancient buildings along the way.

 

We have been in numerous European and other churches around the world, so I figured that we'd be 10 minutes and out.  I was completely wrong, we spent over two hours walking around this monster of a church and grounds.  The entry fee is £17 per adult.

I was not prepared for how elaborate a church that began in the 6th century AD.  With my mouth hanging open I walked around the main floor of the Cathedral.  It is much like the Vatican with its side chapels and rooms.  To the left, you can see the Cathedral at the end of the street.

There is a pretty walk along the river that goes through the old walled city.

This was my favourite house in Canterbury.  It was called the Tower House and in the 1600s, these guard houses were sold off to the wealthy to fix up and live in.  The tower was obviously added onto through the last 500ish years.  The look of the 4 different structures sandwiched together appears very whimsical.

Once we got into the Cathedral I was very surprised that we were allowed to go up and touch so many things that are over 1400 years old such as certain stained-glass windows, tombs etc.  These cathedral windows are the best examples of medieval stained glass in all of England.

The Cathedral is much too large to get into one photo.

If you look all the way down into the depth of the length of the Cathedral is the entrance into another huge section of the church, unbelievable.

I love me some doors, these iron doors were beautiful.

There was no money spared on this church.  It is elaborate.  Another tomb of a Bishop of Canterbury.

All of the former Bishops of Canterbury are entombed in the church, along with a King and a Queen.

Below is the tomb of some rich dude.  I just like how chill he appears.

King Henry IV and Joan of Navarre 1367-1413

A Bishop to the left.

To the left is The Black Prince Edward Plantagenet who I have read many historical novels about.  He was a fascinating character. 1330-1376

Brass inlaid floors were gorgeous.  

The prayer alcoves were so unique.  You kneel on the pad and stick your head in and confess or pray and no one can hear you.  I tried it and it works.

The carved stonework was everywhere and so ornate.

Once we finished the main floor we went downstairs into the crypt which is actually the original church and then they built a second floor on top of it which I had no idea about.

The Crypt is not as elaborate or ornate but equally as cool to see.

The first generation of the church on the bottom floor is still quite elaborately built but there was an area that actually had a security lady in it and the ceiling was painted in the 1100s and it was still in good shape.  It was a lower-side chapel and they did not want you to touch it or take photos of it.

The worn stone slab stairs and floor are everywhere which only adds to the character of this 1400-plus-year-old building.

Down in the crypt is a tiny little Museum set aside into an alcove which I read the entire thing that alone took me 20 minutes.

This was the Black Prince's funerary (1376) armour.  This hung above his tomb for nearly 600 years and is still in fabulous shape.

To the right is the original Charter of King Alfred The Great 898.  Keep in mind he did not have time to write neatly due to the fact that his kingdom was under relentless Viking attacks.

Copper-gilt armoured gloves 14th century.

A helmet that saw battle with the impact marks in it.

This church blew my mind and is very much a must-see.  We took over 2 hours inside the Cathedral and outside in the grounds.