Canterbury

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Historic cathedral city in Kent, southeast England, on the River Stour, 100 km/62 mi southeast of London; population (2001) 135,300. The city is the centre of the Anglican community and seat of the archbishop of Canterbury. It is a popular tourist destination. Paper, paper products, and electrical goods are manufactured here. The public sector is the biggest employer in the city, largely due to the presence of two universities (Canterbury Christ Church University College (1962) and the University of Kent at Canterbury (1965)), a further education college, and an art college.

History
Canterbury was the site of the Roman town Durovernum Cantiacorum. Situated on Watling Street, the Roman road between Dover and London, it was an important fortress and military station. Damage caused by World War II bombing raids and subsequent demolition revealed numerous Roman building works, including baths, streets, walls, and theatres. It is believed that a settlement was maintained from Roman times until the Saxon period, and in the 6th century the town, which was then known as Cantwarabyrig, was the capital of Ethelbert, king of Kent. St Augustine, sent from Rome to convert England to Christianity, was welcomed by him in Canterbury in 597. The shrine of English archbishop and politician St Thomas à Becket, who was murdered in the cathedral, was an important centre of pilgrimage until the Reformation.

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