Good morning, we're at Burgate and we're back in Canterbury,
and this time we're gonna see the cathedral that we missed on the last trip. So
if you didn't see the last video with all of the different attractions that we've already covered,
all the lovely old buildings then maybe go and watch that first and then come back
and join us for our tour of the cathedral. At the very end something very special
we're going to see St Martin's church and we didn't see that last time either so enjoy!
Canterbury Cathedral is in the heart of the walled city accessed via the visitor centre
on butter market to the right of Christ Church Gate, shrouded in scaffolding during our visit.
Your ticket will give you access to the cathedral and the precinct,
the grounds around this cathedral. We spoke of Saint Augustine in the last video,
in 597 a.d he arrived in kent from Rome having been sent by Pope Gregory 1st, tasked with
converting pagan Britain to Christianity. Having swayed the local King Ethelbert Augustine and his
monks were given land outside the city walls to set up an abbey and also a church Saint Martin's,
now the oldest church in England still in use, we'll see more of this later.
Augustine became the first archbishop and established his seat within the city walls
building a cathedral. The current cathedral was built between 1070
and 1077 by the Normans following a major fire, much larger and grander than before.
Augustine's original foundations were found and lie under the nave.
Let's enter the cathedral and start our walk in the Nave.
The nave is over 600 years old designed by Henry Yevele. The vault is 26.5 meters 82 feet high,
at the west end is a huge window slightly obscured today filled with stained glass much of which is
over 800 years old. On the north side of the Nave is a beautiful 17th-century marble font
but not long after completion was broken up during the English Civil War. William Somner
collected all the pieces held onto them and when the crown was restored so was the wonderful font.
Much of the Nave ceiling is covered presently for the finishing touches
of restoration to be revealed later in 2022.
Climbing the worn and shiny stone steps we reach the pulpitum crossing.
In front of us is a stone screen with intricately carved royal statues. Before the civil war
this would have been the site of the twelve apostles but they were destroyed.
Look straight up inside the Bell Harry Tower and the wonderful detail here.
This tower was one of the last major additions to the Cathedral in the late 1400s, seen here from
outside it is actually made from nearly half a million bricks and only faced with stone.
The Archbishop, Thomas Beckett was famously and brutally murdered by
knights of King Henry II in 1170. Heading to the martyrdom,
a modern altar and sculpture mark the spot where the savage killing occurred.
Opposite the memorial is the door from the cloisters where the knights
entered the cathedral. The Pope made Beckett a Saint within three years and miracles are said
to have occurred here. Canterbury became one of the great pilgrimage centres of medieval Europe
and shaped the city in the cathedral for centuries to come.
Heading to the crypt the oldest remaining part of the cathedral,
Romanesque in style it was here Beckett's body was taken laid to rest the next day.
A recent sculpture by Anthony Gormley made from iron nails from the roof
outlines a floating body above the site of Saint Thomas's first tomb.
The choir is over 800 years old rebuilt in 1174 following a terrible
fire and was the first building in Britain to have a gothic style.
Its french architect William of Sens fell from scaffolding when inspecting the blue central roof
boss. The building work was finished by his young assistant who was known as William the Englishman.
The choir stalls a dark wood from the Victorian period.
In the distance is the high altar leading to Trinity chapel.
Notice the archbishop's chair known as Saint Augustine's chair.
Trinity chapel was badly damaged in the fire
and rebuilt larger and wider to accommodate the pilgrims travelling to the shrine of
Saint Thomas of Canterbury as he was also known in the middle ages.
In 1220 his shrine was moved from the crypt directly below here into Trinity chapel with
the ever-burning candle marking the spot. The shrine would have been marble upon it
the golden casket in which Beckett's remains had been moved to. Pilgrims described it as
one of the most richly decorated and bejewelled shrines in all of Europe. Above it was a wooden
box that was lowered and locked when the shrine was not in use to prevent thefts. Nothing remains
today as Henry VIII declared Beckett a traitor to his King, having the jewelled shrine removed
and Beckett's bones burnt. A large ruby was kept by Henry, worn on a thumb ring.
Other notable burials in the chapel include Edward of Woodstock, the black prince as he
was known and the only King buried here Henry VII and his wife Joan of Navarre.
You can step up to look over their tomb.
The Corona chapel was a sacred part of the cathedral almost circular known now as the
chapel of saints and martyrs of our time. From outside Beckett's crown as it was named was an
18th-century edition. Pilgrims would come here from 1220 to pray at the shrine of Beckett's
crown, a fragment of his skull preserved following his murder. The cathedral has other treasures on
display from goblets and chalices but the star find was in 1938 when an excavation of
the great cloisters unearthed a 10th-century personal sundial, probably used by a monk.
Now let's take a look around some of the precincts, the grounds around the Cathedral,
they are part of the Unesco world heritage site. Many visitors seem to miss exploring
these parts of the Cathedral and are well worth a stroll and they have stories to tell.
The canterbury war horse reminds us of the 8 million horses that died in the first world war
representing conflict and loss of human and animal life.
Passing through what's called the dark entry we arrive at Green Court in the vicinity of the
King's school. Head over to the north corner and the Norman Staircase built in 1100 by the Normans.
It's the oldest structure in the precinct. The staircase was part of the poor pilgrim's hall
that served as a shelter for pilgrims. Today it's part of the King's school.
Heading back towards the Cathedral on our way to the great cloisters we notice a water tower dating
back to the 12th century. Prior Wilburt wanted to bring fresh water into the priory buildings,
using lead pipes and a sophisticated system
they did just that from a well near the cathedral, allowing the monks to regularly bathe.
The Great Cloisters linked up many areas of the monastery.
Spend time looking up at the carvings and shields that cover all areas of the ceiling.
A door off the cloisters leads you to the largest Chapter House in England.
It's a separate building it would have been used by the monks to assemble daily to discuss
day-to-day activities and read a chapter from their benedictine rule.
So i think once they remove all the scaffolding the Cathedral is going to be absolutely amazing
again, really done a good job. It's taken a long time to get it back to such good order, as it will
be later this year. We're now heading to Saint Martin's Church so we'll do that and see the
oldest church in England. It's about a 15-minute walk out of the city walls to the church,
you will be passing the Saint Augustine's Abbey on your way and you can poke your head in the
entrance and have a quick look without paying of course you can visit as well.
Head up North Holmes Road and the church will be in front of you.
The sign says that in fact, the church is the oldest in the English-speaking world
as well as the oldest parish church still in continuous use in England. First built in Roman
times in 597 a.d when Augustine arrived it was the private chapel of Christian Queen Bertha of Kent.
Saint Augustine and his companions worshipped at the church
until King Ethelbert granted him the land for the world-famous Abbey and Cathedral.
Well, we hope you've enjoyed our tour of the cathedral and St Martin's church.
If you haven't seen our other video on the fascinating history and attractions here in
Canterbury then do click on the link at the end and carry on watching. We would
love you to hit subscribe as well, or give us a like. Thanks for watching and see you again.