The Old Weavers House
This building is in the centre of the photo, with the white walls and black wood. Built in 1507, it takes its name from the Flemish and Hugenot Weavers who fled from France to escape religious persecution in the 16th and 17th Centuries. The house stands on the River Stour which is somewhat not in view at the end of the building. The Flemish refugees were welcomed by Elizabeth I who gave them the right to trade in Canterbury. She also offered them a special place of worship in the Cathedral, and a Hugenot chapel is still there today.
This row of buildings houses several Italian restaurants, and the owners have named it 'Little Italy'. Just down the street from the Weavers is the brown brick building that houses the Ask Pizza and Pasta restaurant.
High Street
We've crossed the Stour and are looking up the High Street. This is the main shopping street, although the large building on the right is the County Hotel. Remember that this was once the main London to Dover road and this hotel in the centre of the City catered for passing travellers. It manages to exist today because it has access from the rear and cars can park in its garages.
In the foreground, the tiles are coloured and mark out the foundations of All Saint's Church, demolished in 1937. The Trust excavated the site in 1986.
The Beaney Institute
This highly ornate Victorian building was endowed by a Mr Beaney who was the son of a local labourer. The local doctor helped to fund him to study medicine in Edinburgh. Beaney became a ship's surgeon and found himself in the Gold Rush in Melbourne in 1857. Known as `Diamond Jimmy', he became the richest doctor in Melbourne. He left £10,000 to Canterbury for this extravagant building to be the `Beaney Institute, for the education of the labouring man'.
The building now houses the main city public library and the Royal Museum.
Turn right here to enter Stour Street.
Corner of Guildhall Street
When this street was a major road for vehicles, this was a main junction in the centre of the city. There are still two road signs on the wall to show this. Now it's a small open space, and full of people moving up and down the city's main street.
The second building along on the left after Guildhall Street had a fire in 1992, and was .
Ahead is Queen Elizabeth's Guest Chamber and the centre of the city. Turning left takes you into Guildhall Street.
Boots the Chemist
Boots occupies one of the prime spots in the centre of city, and you wouldn't know from a distance that the apparently ancient wooded building contains a modern shop interior. In fact, the exterior is not as old as it seems, having been constructed early in the last century. However, as usual in England, look up. The roof is 15th century.
The building further along the street was once a Pilgrim Inn known as the `Cheker of the Hope'. It was established in 1392 to replace the older `hospitals' where Pilgrims would stay before visiting the Shrine of St. Thomas in the Cathedral. The stone arches here are the remnants of its frontage.
The Parade
Suddenly we are out of the trees that hide the ugliness of post-war developments and into the centre of the City. The street here is closed to traffic between 10am and 4.30pm.
On your right is the Long market, an area of recent development, that takes its name from the older market building the once stood here. Some five years ago, the post-war buildings were demolished to make way for the current development. For that summer, an archaeological dig of the whole site exposed many interesting finds and told the historians much about the previous ages of the city.
On your left is Rose Lane, leading to more post-war development, some in concrete, some not.
St. Georges Street
On Wednesdays and Saturdays, you'll find a market occupying this space. When it's not here, the street is filled with people moving between the various shops that are here.
Shops in St. Georges Street
This once was a roadway which is presumably why the shops here were designed with sheltered walkway in front of them. It does make a good place to shelter from the rain or snow in less clement seasons.
St. Georges
You are standing on the south-east side of Canterbury, looking North-west along the main street which runs through the City. Ahead of you is St. Georges Street, a pedestrianised area of shops and trees. This end of town was nearly completely destroyed in one air raid in the Second World War. It was rebuilt after the war and the town is now undergoing the pain of having that done again. The green wall ahead of you hides the 'Big Dig' where the Canterbury Archaeological Trust are revealing the history of the area prior to redevelopment.
If you turn right here, you will find yourself in Burgate which leads to the Cathedral. Turning left is a pleasant walk along the remaining part of the City Walls. In reality, use the subway, otherwise you will be killed. Behind you is the road to Dover.
