St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury, Kent England

Walking the grounds of the ancient St Augustine's Abbey makes English history come alive thanks to the preservation of these historic structures and an onsite museum.

St Augustine's Abbey is part of the World Heritage site, which includes St Martin's Church and Canterbury Cathedral.

A short video clip showing the grounds of St Augustine's Abbey.

The Romans brought Christianity to Britain but the local Anglos-Saxon tribes worshipped other gods. According to the storyboards at St Augustine's Abbey, Pope Gregory I was influenced to send Augustine to England when he saw the plight of pagan English children sold in a slave market. Augustine arrived in 597.

Augustine was received by Queen Bertha who was a Christian and worshipping at nearby St Martin's church. She appears to have encouraged her husband, King Ethelbert, to donate the land, which became the first monastic site now known as St Augustine's Abbey. 

He also supported St Martin's church where St Augustine began his missionary efforts and 

provided the land for Canterbury Cathedral.

Following the Norman invasion of 1066, the abbey was modified in the Norman style. A wall and outline remains.

Normal church ruins in 2023
St Augustine's Abbey

Signs mark the locations where regional kings and religious leaders were buried.

In the 600s, St Mary's church was built near Augustine's original church. Around 1050, Abbot Wulfric began building a circular tower to join the two churches. The remains of this tower are depicted below.

Wulfric's Tower c 1050
Geoffrey Sutton 2023

The monks had their own burial site. Below are the ruins of their crypt, which was part of a new Norman church of 1091.

The Crypt

The site of the tombs for early archbishops is covered by a roof.

Other monastic structures are identified by informative signboards.

Outline of dining hall site
St Augustine's Abbey 2023
Geoffrey Sutton/ suttong.com

Cloister and Scriptorium site
St Augustine's Abbey 2023
Geoffrey Sutton/ suttong.com

Lady chapel and crypt
St Augustine's Abbey 2023
Geoffrey Sutton/ suttong.com

The experience is enhanced by a museum containing a history of the site on illustrated storyboards and some archaeological discoveries.

The following example describes the building of the abbey.

The glass-enclosed case includes finds from the burial of an abbot.

Dissolution

Following the divorce of King Henry VIII from Catherine of Aragon, the king made himself the head of the Church of England. Eventually, the monasteries became the property of the government (the crown).

Notes on St Augustine's Abbey

Based on my April 2023 visit

____________________

The site is maintained by English Heritage.

There is an entrance fee.

Entry is free for English Heritage members.

An audio guide is included with the entrance fee; however, it did not work for all of the sites.

The museum is small but informative and includes a gift shop and toilets.

The museum also includes child-friendly activities.

The grounds are well-maintained and provide a nice opportunity for a walk and a picnic lunch.

Google map of St Augustine's Abbey

Sponsor

Mind the Gap - A Fun and Informative Look at British Culture

Buy on AMAZON

Please check out my website   www.suttong.com

   and see my books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Also, consider connecting with me on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

Related sites

Canterbury Cathedral

St Martin's Church - England oldest active church

A resource book on Canterbury

Middleton Railway in Leeds England, UK

 

I visited the Middleton Railway on 31 October 2021 and took a ride on a steam train. This post includes photos from the Railway and a YouTube video. If you love trains, the Middleton Railway is worth a visit.

I arrived just before the train was scheduled to leave so I jumped on the guards van.

At the end of the short journey, we got off for a short break before the return.

The engine was decoupled, reversed, and coupled to the van where I was standing for the return trip.

Here's a photo of the platform when we arrived at Middleton station.

I traded cameras with a passenger to get this photo.

You walk through the shed between the train and the entrance where there are a few engines.

This is the building you are looking for when you arrive. I walked from the nearest bus stop.

Despite the heavy rain, I enjoyed the ride.

Here's a short edited video to give you a better feel for the experience.

From my YouTube Channel SuttonTravels https://youtu.be/D13IJPtojyQ

About the Middleton Railway

This railway is the oldest railway in continuous use in the world. It began in 1758 as a waggonway. Horses pulled wagon loads of coal to Leeds, which fueled their industries.

In 1812, the railway began using steam locomotives, which used a large rack wheel connected to cogs.

Their success led to the manufacture of steam locomotives in Leeds.

Notes

Most of the videos were taken with my Lumix 4K Digital Camera

Most of the photos were taken with my Google Pixel Phone

There's a collection of locomotives onsite.

You can buy books and souvenirs.

There are special events throughout the year.

Link to the Middleton Railway website

Google Map Middleton Railway

My website www.suttong.com

ad. Buy Mind the Gap - to learn the often funny yet informative differences between British and American culture in words and phrases.

Mind the Gap on AMAZON  and  GOOGLE

Related Posts

Watercress Line

Bury Transport Museum

The Tube - London Underground

Bury Transport Museum England

 

The Bury Transport Museum is packed with historic vehicles as advertised. The collection is housed in the building pictured above--the restored Castlecroft Goods Warehouse dated 1848. I recommend a visit if you are in the area. The museum is across the street from the East Lancashire Railway--the Bury Bolton Street Station.

Storyboard provide information on the history of British Transport in this area.

The large collection includes Rail...

Lorries

Busses and coaches

Automobiles

And more...

Notes

Entrance Fee - Free admission, donations requested

Google Map Link

Museum Website 

There is a small Gift shop

A few items are outdoors

Visiting Befordshire, England, UK

Ireland (see above) is a hamlet in Bedfordshire.

The first Roundabout in the UK was built around 1909 and found in the first Garden City of Letchworth.

The Abbey Church of St Leonard of Old Warden in Bedfordshire. The church dates to the 1100s. The current building is mostly from the 1200s with additions between the 14th and 16th centuries.

The Ongley Mausoleum in the churchyard.

I had lunch with cousins at the John O'Gaunt Inn in the small village of Sutton in Bedfordshire. The Inn was created from thatched cottages that date to the 1700s.

Five Bells Pub, Henlow

Inside the Five Bells Pub, Henlow 2021

I write about travel and psychology See www.suttong.com

Ad. Download a sample of Mind the Gap -- a book about British - American culture and language

Buy on AMAZON or GOOGLE - paperback and digital editions available

Visit Cambridge, England

 

River Cam / Geoff Sutton 2021

Cambridge is the home to Cambridge University, which seems to dominate the city. It’s a beautiful old city where you can enjoy fine food, a punt on the River Cam, peaceful walks, modern shopping, historic buildings, and many museums.

[A Concise History of the University of Cambridge]

As of 2021, Cambridge was the home of more Nobel Prize winners than any other city.

The city has a long history with finds dating to the Bronze Age. Many artefacts document the Roman and Viking times. Henry I granted a town charter around 1120. The university was founded in1209. The construction of King’s College chapel began in 1446 under King Henry VI and continued for several years—eventually, it was completed during the reign of King Henry VIII. It has become a symbol of both the university and the city.

I stopped by Hobson’s Conduit, which is the location of the fresh water brought to the city in the 1600s. Later, the town was a significant site during the Civil War and under control of Oliver Cromwell.

Hobsons Conduit/ Geoff Sutton 2021

The city expanded in the 1800s. Rail service began in 1845. I arrived by rail during my most recent visit.

 Cambridge was an important centre during World War II. The RAF had a training centre and a 1944 meeting at Trinity College included plans for the invasion of Europe.

Codebreaker, Alan Turing, Remembered

Nearby is the only American Cemetery in the UK. The land was given to the United States by Cambridge University--  3,811 American soldiers are buried here. And, 5,127 names are listed on the Walls of the Missing. Link to the US website.

American Cemetery Chapel Cambridge /Geoff Sutton 2021

Left-USAF Veteran John McClaran /Geoff Sutton 2021

Museums

 In a sense, the university is a museum as you observe the magnificent buildings. But there are several museums containing a variety of collections—some focused on a specific discipline.

 Fitzwilliam Museum: A magnificent structure housing a great variety of paintings, art objects, books and manuscripts and more. [Fitzwilliam Museum books]

Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambidge / Geoff Sutton 2021

Museum of Zoology: A small but interesting collection of birds, sea animals, insects, and other animals from around the globe. It’s housed in the David Attenborough building. One of the collections on display includes some contributions from Charles Darwin. [Book: Darwin's Fossils]

Darwin's Octopus, Museum of Zoology

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology: The displays in 2021 emphasised the diversity of cultures around the world along with local finds like the Trumpington Cross.

Trumpington Cross

The Polar Museum: This unique museum, Scott Polar Research Institute, focuses on arctic and Antarctic explorations. A copy of a Shackleton expedition lifeboat is outside. [Book: Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage]

 

Shackleton Lifeboat Replica

There are several other museums as well.

Churches

Cambridge is home to several historic churches.

Great St Mary's church has been the university church since 1209. It is a Church of England parish in the Diocese of Ely. [Guidebook and History]

Great St Mary's Church, Cambridge

St Bene't's Church has been a place of Christian worship since about 1020.

St Bene't's Church Cambridge

More About Cambridge

 The River Cam offers attractive scenery and an opportunity for boating. There are paths for walkers and famous bridges including the notable mathematical bridge designed by William Etheridge, a master carpenter, in 1748.

River Cam/ Geoff Sutton 2021

There are several streets for shopping throughout the city as well as a market centre and a Grand Arcade on St Andrews Street anchored by John Lewis & Partners. There's a great variety of cafe's, pubs, and restaurants too.

 

Market Centre, Cambridge UK

I enjoyed Nanna's Burrito

Eagle Pub, Cambridge UK

Also, there are several parks and many trails to enjoy.

One example is the Cherry Hinton Brook and Pond by Cherry Hinton Hall close to where I stayed.

Travel Resources

Day Trip: Cambridge is about 60 miles north of London and can be visited as a day trip. I spent part of three days there in 2021 and had visited before.

Visitcamridge.org

Toilets: In addition to pubs and restaurants, toilets can be found in the Grand Arcade and most museums.

Rail Service

I arrived at the historic Cambridge railway station on a Greater Anglia train. The station is CBG on Station Road. The postcode is CB1 2JW. It is a mile SE of the city centre. The station was built in 1845. In 2021, the trip from Kings Cross in London takes about an hour.

Bus Service is available. In 2021, I got around on a Day Saver pass.

Google Map of Cambridge

My web page www.suttong.com