Canterbury

Mom and dad came down this weekend for a seaside road trip. They arrived Thursday afternoon and we spent the evening chatting, drinking wine and eating. And Dad and I doing face masks. (Mom chickened out this time.)

We look a little crazy!

We left home on Friday morning and headed to Canterbury, getting the park and ride into town. (We did have to make a small stop on the way to release Jiminy Cricket who had hitched a ride in my car.) The town centre is very pretty and we had a lovely lunch, before heading to the Cathedral.

Canterbury Cathedral

They are doing a load of construction work on the cathedral so we couldn't see the roof which was a shame. But we could see part in another section. (Must go back when it's finished.)

Centre.

Canterbury Cathedral is where Thomas Beckett was murdered. He was archbishop of Canterbury in mid-1100s and a friend of King Henry II. At least at the start. They grew apart and became enemies. Apparently Henry said something like "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" Some of his knights seemed to take this literally, rode off and beheaded Thomas inside his own Cathedral. Thomas Becket became a saint and martyr, and miracles apparently took place there often. (People also sold off any bit of him or his things they could find.) 

Thought to be site of Thomas Beckets death.

Tribute to Thomas Becket.

The ceiling

Shrine to Thomas Beckets first tomb (destroyed by Henry VIII).

Alter to the Martyrs.

We were really lucky with the weather all weekend. And cloisters outside (near where the current archbishop stills lives) are very pretty and peaceful.

We got back to the car just in time for it to rain, and headed down to our hotel in St. Margarets on the Cliffe. We were all really impressed with the accommodation; it was a small hotel on the site of a hotel/caravan park. We walked into the village for dinner but all the restaurants and pubs were all booked out so headed back to the bar at the site. The food was very good and there was a separate bar for the kids so fairly quiet.