Changes

'''Canterbury''' (derivation from ''Cantwaraburg'' = fortress of the people of [[Kent]] – from the Old-Celtic for Kent + O.E. wara = people + burg (fortified place)) is a [[cathedral]] town in [[Kent]][[England]] on the River Stour, 100km (60 miles) southeast of [[London]].

'''Canterbury''' (derivation from ''Cantwaraburg'' = fortress of the people of [[Kent]] – from the Old-Celtic for Kent + O.E. wara = people + burg (fortified place)) is a [[cathedral]] town in [[Kent]] [[England]] on the River Stour, 100km (60 miles) southeast of [[London]].

It is very old and was an important [[Iron Age]] settlement when the [[Roman]]s arrived and made it a regional centre (Durovernum)  in the 1st century A.D.,  There is evidence of its importance throughout the Roman occupation until  the turn of the fifth century – including walls, temples and, possibly, early [[Christian]] churches which may have existed into the early [[Anglo-Saxon]] era. One such church, St. Martin’s was included with the cathedral and St. Augustine’s Abbey as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988.

It is very old and was an important [[Iron Age]] settlement when the [[Roman]]s arrived and made it a regional centre (Durovernum)  in the 1st century A.D.,  There is evidence of its importance throughout the Roman occupation until  the turn of the fifth century – including walls, temples and, possibly, early [[Christian]] churches which may have existed into the early [[Anglo-Saxon]] era. One such church, St. Martin’s was included with the cathedral and St. Augustine’s Abbey as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988.

The town would prosper with its ecclesiastical importance. Centuries before the cathedral became one of the most important places of pilgrimage after the murder of [[Thomas Becket]] in 1170, the pre-eminence of such men as [[St. Dunstan]] in the 10th century, [[St. Anselm]]  (d.1109) and others brought patronage to the town.

The town would prosper with its ecclesiastical importance. Centuries before the cathedral became one of the most important places of pilgrimage after the murder of [[Thomas Becket]] in 1170, the pre-eminence of such men as [[St. Dunstan]] in the 10th century, [[St. Anselm]]  (d.1109) and others brought patronage to the town.

Construction of the present Canterbury Cathedral  began in 1070. Parts were rebuilt after a fire in 1174 with the reconstruction focused on the “pilgrim trade”.  The town suffered relatively little from [[Henry VIII]]'s [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|actions]] during the Reformation, then continued to grow as the centre of the Anglican communion.

Construction of the present Canterbury Cathedral  began in 1070. Parts were rebuilt after a fire in 1174 with the reconstruction focused on the “pilgrim trade”.  The town suffered relatively little from [[Henry VIII]]'s [[]] during the Reformation, then continued to grow as the centre of the Anglican communion.

The ancient centre of the town was extensively damaged by bombing during [[World War II]] but enough remains for it to warrant the constant stream of visitors it receives.   

The ancient centre of the town was extensively damaged by bombing during [[World War II]] but enough remains for it to warrant the constant stream of visitors it receives.   

Its literary fame is secure as the destination of the pilgrims in [[Geoffrey Chaucer]]’s ''"Canterbury Tales"''.   

Its literary fame is secure as the destination of the pilgrims in [[Geoffrey Chaucer]]’s ''Canterbury Tales''.  (As an aside... The word "canter" to describe that easy gait of horses not in any particular hurry but not exactly dawdling either is a shortening of the term "Canterbury gallop" - a description of the gait used by a group of pilgrims riding to Canterbury.}