Canterbury

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Canterbury Cathedral
Norman staircase, King's School, Canterbury
Coat of arms of Canterbury

Canterbury is a city in Kent, England. It is about 60 miles (97 km) from London. It was made famous by a book called The Canterbury Tales. It is also famous for Canterbury Cathedral. Thomas Becket was assassinated by knights who came from Sandlings.

Transportation[change | change source]

There are two railway stations in the city; Canterbury East and Canterbury West. The A2 road passes near the city. It goes west to London and south-east to Dover.

Education[change | change source]

The city has an estimated 31,000 students. This is the highest student/permanent resident ratio in the UK.[1] There are three universities, and several other higher education institutions and colleges. At the 2001 census, 22% of the population aged 16–74 were full-time students, compared with 7% throughout England.[2] The three universities: the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, and the University for the Creative Arts.

Sports[change | change source]

The St Lawrence Ground is the home ground of Kent County Cricket Club. It has hosted several One Day Internationals, including one England match during the 1999 Cricket World Cup.[3]

History[change | change source]

The Canterbury area has been lived in since prehistoric times. Paleolithic stone axes, and Neolithic and Bronze Age pots have been found in the area.[4] Canterbury was once the main settlement of the Celtic tribe of the Cantiaci, which lived in most of modern-day Kent. In the 1st century AD, the Romans captured the settlement and named it Durovernum Cantiacorum.[4] The Romans rebuilt the city, with new streets in a grid pattern, a theatre, a temple, a forum, and public baths.[4] Its position on Watling Street on route to the major Kentish ports of Rutupiae (now Richborough), Dubrae (now Dover), and Lemanae (now Lymne) made it important.

References[change | change source]

  1. Kentish Gazette 14 May 2015)
  2. Source [1], retrieved on 27 May 2008
  3. "St Lawrence Ground". Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lyle, Marjorie 2002. Canterbury: 2004 years of history. Tempus, 16-43. ISBN 0-7524-1948-X 16