ART. – The remains of the ancient abbey, where St Augustine and his successors were buried, have been identified at Canterbury, and the church of St Martin is also indicated as dating from before the saint’s arrival in England. However, the most important monument in the city is the ancient cathedral, which dominates the urban centre with its imposing mass.
Founded in 1070 by Bishop Lanfranc immediately after his appointment to the see of Canterbury, the cathedral soon underwent transformations and additions in the late 11th century under Bishop Anselm. The beautiful crypt with its interesting cuboid capitals, part of the transept and the choir are, however, all that remain in the cathedral from the original Romanesque church. This was in fact completely transformed by a series of works begun in 1175 under the direction of the French architect William of Sens, and by the end of the 12th century it had assumed the characteristics of French Gothic buildings. After 1192, the work of the French architect was continued by an English colleague also named William, who, although making some changes to the original design, did not substantially alter its spirit.
The works continued into the 14th century and the early years of the 15th, when the construction of the western transept and the great nave was completed in the style of late English Gothic, which also characterised the great central tower erected in 1495.
The north-west tower of the façade, however, dates from the first half of the 19th century.
Among the most important works of art still preserved in the cathedral, particular mention should be made of the tombs of Henry IV and Archbishop Warham, both in the English Gothic style.
Apart from some remains of ancient Franciscan and Dominican convents in Canterbury, notable remnants of the city’s ancient walls and fine civil architecture from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance are also preserved.