Canterbury

a cathedral city of east Kent. It was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kent. It lies fifty-six miles from London on the highroad from that city to Dover. It was the original seat of Christianity in Great Britain. It is situated in a fertile valley among green hills, and presents a picturesque appearance from whichever side it is viewed. There is a considerable local industry in brewing. The present population is about 25,000. There are local manufactures of beer, leather, brick, lime, and ropes, as well as a local trade in grain and hops. The chief feature of the town, however, is a magnificent Gothic cathedral. The original buildings have all been destroyed. The present edifice has been built at several different times. It is not uniform in style, but is very impressive. It is 530 feet in length and 154 feet in breadth. The main tower, 235 feet in height, is one of the finest in England. The material is a yellow stone from Caen, France. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of the Church of England. He places the crowns on the heads of the king and queen at their coronation, and, wherever they may be, he regards them as his parishioners. Canterbury formerly contained the shrine of Thomas a Becket, to which pilgrimages were customary in the days of Chaucer. Although Becket's shrine was demolished in 1538 by Henry VIII, a number of interesting monuments are still to be seen. See Lambeth Palace; Chaucer; Becket; Anglo-Saxon